The Arabs have also introduced soap-making, and, as a consequence, in every large establishment or market, soap of a coarse but useful kind can be bought. This soap is made by mixing potash — generally obtained by burning banana stalks and leaves — with palm oil. During the first few months we occupied Kasongo, we were constantly worried by alarming fires, which always occurred at night. We found that the conflagrations on the far side of the river were due to Lutete's people, who were in the habit of setting fire to the houses as a means of driving out the rats, which they were very fond of as food.

This was eventually put a stop to by Lutete in a somewhat summary manner. After this, fires were seen on our side of the river, and, as they always started up wind from our own quarters, we concluded that there