The shore, near which they spent two nights, was covered with reeds and
papyrus. Wishing to obtain the latitude by the natural horizon, they
waded into the water some distance towards what was reported to be a
sandbank, but were so assaulted by leeches, they were fain to retreat;
and a woman told them that in enticing them into the water the men only
wanted to kill them. The information gathered was that this lake was
nothing in size compared to another in the north, from which it is
separated by only a tongue of land. The northern end of Shirwa has not
been seen, though it has been passed; the length of the lake may probably
be 60 or 80 miles, and about 20 broad. The height above the sea is 1800
feet, and the taste of the water is like a weak solution of Epsom salts.
The country around is very beautiful, and clothed with rich vegetation;
and the waves, at the time they were there breaking and foaming over a
rock on the south-eastern side, added to the beauty of the picture.
Exceedingly lofty mountains, perhaps 8000 feet above the sea-level, stand
near the eastern shore. When their lofty steep-sided summits appear,
some above, some below the clouds, the scene is grand. This range is
called Milanje; on the west stands Mount Zomba, 7000 feet in height, and
some twenty miles long.

Their object being rather to gain the confidence of the people by degrees
than to explore, they considered that they had advanced far enough into
the country for one trip; and believing that they could secure their end
by a repetition of their visit, as they had done on the Shire, they
decided to return to the vessel at Dakanamoio island; but, instead of
returning by the way they came, they passed down southwards close by
Mount Chiradzuru, among the relatives of Chibisa, and thence by the pass
Zedi, down to the Shire. The Kroomen had, while we were away, cut a good
supply of wood for steaming, and we soon proceeded down the river.