The boat was, however, lost in crossing the Lufubu River, and the canoe when finished would only hold six men.

Before we could build another, circumstances were so changed that we had no need of them. The Commandant despatched Lutete and his people to fight to the northward, with instructions to be back in a fortnight. Lutete departed, leaving behind him, as a guard for over five thousand women whom he left in his camp, two hundred muzzleloaders and the men who carried them. Shortly after his departure, the Waginia, who were as usual spying about the camp, had an interview with the Commandant, in which they told him that provisions were very scarce in Nyangwe. In the course of the conversation they inquired how soon Lutete would be back, to which the Commandant replied that he expected him in a fortnight or so.