TheAmbondalivefartotheN。W。；theirlanguage，theBonda，isthecommondialectinAngolaSekelenkehadfled，andwasnowlivingwithhisvillageasavassalofMasikoAsnoticesofsuchmenwillperhapsconveythebestideaofthestateoftheinhabitantstothereader，IshallhereafteralludetotheconductofSekelenke，whomIatpresentonlyintroduceSekelenkehadgonewithhisvillagerstohuntelephantsontherightbankoftheLeeba，andwasnowonhiswaybacktoMasikoHesentmeadishofboiledzebra’sflesh，andarequestthatIshouldlendhimacanoetoferryhiswivesandfamilyacrosstherivertothebankonwhichwewereencampedManyofSekelenke’speoplecametosalutethefirstwhitemantheyeverhadanopportunityofseeing；
　　butSekelenkehimselfdidnotcomenearWeheardhewasoffendedwithsomeofhispeopleforlettingmeknowhewasamongthecompanyHesaidthatIshouldbedispleasedwithhimfornotcomingandmakingsomepresent。
　　ThiswastheonlyinstanceinwhichIwasshunnedinthisquarter。
　　AsitwouldhavebeenimpolitictopassManenko，oranychief，withoutatleastshowingsomuchrespectastocallandexplaintheobjectsofourpassingthroughthecountry，wewaitedtwoentiredaysforthereturnofthemessengerstoManenko；andasIcouldnothurrymatters，Iwentintotheadjacentcountrytosearchformeatforthecamp。
　　Thecountryisfurnishedlargelywithforest，havingoccasionallyopenlawnscoveredwithgrass，notintuftsasinthesouth，butsocloselyplantedthatonecannotseethesoilWecameuponamanandhistwowivesandchildren，burningcoarserushesandthestalksoftsitla，growinginabrackishmarsh，inordertoextractakindofsaltfromtheashesTheymakeafunnelofbranchesoftrees，andlineitwithgrassrope，twistedrounduntilitis，asitwere，abeehive-roofinverted。
　　Theashesareputintowater，inacalabash，andthenitisallowedtopercolatethroughthesmallholeinthebottomandthroughthegrass。
　　Whenthiswaterisevaporatedinthesun，ityieldssufficientsalttoformarelishwithfoodThewomenandchildrenfledwithprecipitation，butwesatdownatadistance，andallowedthemantimetogaincourageenoughtospeakHe，however，trembledexcessivelyattheapparitionbeforehim；butwhenweexplainedthatourobjectwastohuntgame，andnotmen，hebecamecalm，andcalledbackhiswives。
　　Wesoonafterwardcametoanotherpartyonthesameerrandwithourselves。
　　Themanhadabowaboutsixfeetlong，andiron-headedarrowsaboutthirtyinchesinlength；hehadalsowoodenarrowsneatlybarbed，toshootincaseswherehemightnotbequitecertainofrecoveringthemagain。
　　Wesoonafterwardgotazebra，andgaveourhuntingacquaintancessuchaliberalsharethatwesoonbecamefriendsAllwhomwesawthatdaythencamewithustotheencampmenttobegalittlemeat；
　　andastheyhavesolittlesalt，Ihavenodoubttheyfeltgratefulforwhatwegave。
　　Sekelenkeandhispeople，twenty-fourinnumber，defiledpastourcampcarryinglargebundlesofdriedelephants’meatMostofthemcametosaygood-by，andSekelenkehimselfsenttosaythathehadgonetovisitawifelivinginthevillageofManenkoItwasamereAfricanmanoeuvretogaininformation，andnotcommithimselftoeitheronelineofactionoranotherwithrespecttoourvisitAshewasprobablyinthepartybeforeus，Irepliedthatitwasallright，andwhenmypeoplecameupfromMasikoIwouldgotomywifetoo。
　　Anotherzebracametoourcamp，and，aswehadfriendsnear，itwasshot。
　　Itwasthe`Equusmontanus’，thoughthecountryisperfectlyflat，andwasfinelymarkeddowntothefeet，asallthezebrasareintheseparts。
　　Toourfirstmessage，offeringavisitofexplanationtoManenko，wegotananswer，withabasketofmaniocroots，thatwemustremainwhereweweretillsheshouldvisitusHavingwaitedtwodaysalreadyforher，othermessengersarrivedwithordersformetocometoher。
　　Afterfourdaysofrainsandnegotiation，Ideclinedgoingatall，andproceededuptherivertothesmallstreamMakondolat13d23’12“S。，whichenterstheLeebafromtheeast，andisbetweentwentyandthirtyyardsbroad。
　　JANUARY1ST，1854Wehadheavyrainsalmosteveryday；indeed，therainyseasonhadfairlysetinBasketsofthepurplefruitcalledmawawerefrequentlybroughttousbythevillagers；notforsale，butfromabeliefthattheirchiefswouldbepleasedtohearthattheyhadtreateduswell；wegavethempiecesofmeatinreturn。
　　WhencrossingattheconfluenceoftheLeebaandMakondo，oneofmymenpickedupabitofasteelwatch-chainofEnglishmanufacture，andwewereinformedthatthiswasthespotwheretheMambaricrossincomingtoMasikoTheirvisitsexplainwhySekelenkekepthistuskssocarefullyTheseMambariareveryenterprisingmerchants：
　　whentheymeantotradewithatown，theydeliberatelybegintheaffairbybuildinghuts，asiftheyknewthatlittlebusinesscouldbetransactedwithoutaliberalallowanceoftimeforpalaverTheybringManchestergoodsintotheheartofAfrica；thesecottonprintslooksowonderfulthattheMakololocouldnotbelievethemtobetheworkofmortalhands。
　　OnquestioningtheMambaritheywereansweredthatEnglishmanufacturescameoutofthesea，andbeadsweregatheredonitsshore。
　　ToAfricansourcottonmillsarefairydreams“Howcantheironsspin，weave，andprintsobeautifully？”OurcountryislikewhatTaprobanewastoourancestorsastrangerealmoflight，whencecamethediamond，muslin，andpeacocks；anattemptatexplanationofourmanufacturesusuallyelicitstheexpression，“Trulyyearegods！”
　　WhenabouttoleavetheMakondo，oneofmymenhaddreamedthatMosantuwasshutupaprisonerinastockade：thisdreamdepressedthespiritsofthewholeparty，andwhenIcameoutofmylittletentinthemorning，theyweresittingthepicturesofabjectsorrowIaskedifweweretobeguidedbydreams，orbytheauthorityIderivedfromSekeletu，andorderedthemtoloadtheboatsatonce；theyseemedashamedtoconfesstheirfears；theMakololopickedupcourageandupbraidedtheothersforhavingsuchsuperstitiousviews，andsaidthiswasalwaystheirway；
　　ifevenacertainbirdcalledtothem，theywouldturnbackfromanenterprise，sayingitwasunluckyTheyenteredthecanoesatlast，andwerethebetterofalittlescoldingforbeinginclinedtoputdreamsbeforeauthorityItrainedallthemorning，butaboutelevenwereachedthevillageofSheakondo，onasmallstreamnamedLonkonye。
　　Wesentamessagetotheheadman，whosoonappearedwithtwowives，bearinghandsomepresentsofmanioc：SheakondocouldspeakthelanguageoftheBarotsewell，andseemedawestruckwhentoldsomeofthe“wordsofGod“Hemanifestednofear，alwaysspokefrankly，andwhenhemadeanasseveration，didsobysimplypointinguptotheskyabovehimTheBalondacultivatethemaniocorcassavaextensively；
　　alsodura，ground-nuts，beans，maize，sweetpotatoes，andyams，herecalled“lekoto“，butasyetweseeonlytheoutlyingvillages。
　　ThepeoplewhocamewithSheakondotoourbivouachadtheirteethfiledtoapointbywayofbeautifyingthem，thoughthosewhichwereleftuntouchedwerealwaysthewhitest；theyaregenerallytattooedinvariousparts，butchieflyontheabdomen：theskinisraisedinsmallelevatedcicatrices，eachnearlyhalfaninchlongandaquarterofaninchindiameter，sothatanumberofthemmayconstituteastar，orotherdevice。
　　Thedarkcoloroftheskinpreventsanycoloringmatterbeingdepositedinthesefigures，buttheylovemuchtohavethewholesurfaceoftheirbodiesanointedwithacomfortablevarnishofoilIntheirunassistedstatetheydependonsuppliesofoilfromthePalmaChristi，orcastor-oilplant，orfromvariousotheroliferousseeds，buttheyareallexcessivelyfondofclarifiedbutteroroxfatSheakondo’soldwifepresentedsomemaniocroots，andthenpolitelyrequestedtobeanointedwithbutter：asIhadbeenbountifullysuppliedbytheMakololo，Igaveherasmuchaswouldsuffice，andastheyhavelittleclothing，Icanreadilybelievethatshefelthercomfortgreatlyenhancedthereby。
　　Thefavoritewife，whowasalsopresent，wasequallyanxiousforbutter。
　　Shehadaprofusionofironringsonherankles，towhichwereattachedlittlepiecesofsheetiron，toenablehertomakeatinklingasshewalkedinhermincingAfricanstyle；thesamethingisthoughtprettybyourowndragoonsinwalkingjauntingly。
　　WehadsomuchrainandcloudthatIcouldnotgetasingleobservationforeitherlongitudeorlatitudeforafortnightYettheLeebadoesnotshowanygreatrise，noristhewaterintheleastdiscolored。
　　Itisslightlyblack，fromthenumberofmossyrillswhichfallintoit。
　　Ithasremarkablyfewbirdsandfish，whiletheLeeambyeswarmswithboth。
　　ItisnoticeablethatalligatorsherepossessmoreofthefearofmanthanintheLeeambyeTheBalondahavetaughtthem，bytheirpoisonedarrows，tokeepoutofsightWedidnotseeonebaskinginthesun。
　　TheBalondasetsomanylittletrapsforbirdsthatfewappear。
　　Iobserved，however，manytomenewsmallbirdsofsongonitsbanks。
　　Morerainhasbeenfallingintheeastthanhere，fortheLeeambyewasrisingfastandworkingagainstthesandybankssovigorouslythataslightyellowtingewasperceptibleinit。
　　Oneofourmenwasbittenbyanon-venomousserpent，andofcoursefeltnoharmTheBarotseconcludedthatthiswasowingtomanyofthembeingpresentandseeingit，asifthesightofhumaneyescoulddissolvethepoisonandactasacharm。
　　Onthe6thofJanuarywereachedthevillageofanotherfemalechief，namedNyamoana，whoissaidtobethemotherofManenko，andsisterofShinteorKabompo，thegreatestBalondachiefinthispartofthecountryHerpeoplehadbutrecentlycometothepresentlocality，andhaderectedonlytwentyhuts。
　　Herhusband，Samoana，wasclothedinakiltofgreenandredbaize，andwasarmedwithaspearandabroadswordofantiqueform，abouteighteenincheslongandthreebroadThechiefandherhusbandweresittingonskinsplacedinthemiddleofacirclethirtypacesindiameter，alittleraisedabovetheordinaryleveloftheground，andhavingatrenchrounditOutsidethetrenchsataboutahundredpersonsofallagesandbothsexesThemenwerewellarmedwithbows，arrows，spears，andbroadswordsBesidethehusbandsataratheragedwoman，havingabadoutwardsquintinthelefteyeWeputdownourarmsaboutfortyyardsoff，andIwalkeduptothecentreofthecircularbench，andsalutedhimintheusualwaybyclappingthehandstogetherintheirfashionHepointedtohiswife，asmuchastosay，thehonorbelongstoherIsalutedherinthesameway，andamathavingbeenbrought，Isquatteddowninfrontofthem。
　　Thetalkerwasthencalled，andIwasaskedwhowasmyspokesman。
　　HavingpointedtoKolimbota，whoknewtheirdialectbest，thepalaverbeganindueformIexplainedtherealobjectsIhadinview，withoutanyattempttomystifyorappearinanyothercharacterthanmyown，forIhavealwaysbeensatisfiedthat，eventhoughtherewerenootherconsiderations，thetruthfulwayofdealingwiththeuncivilizedisunquestionablythebestKolimbotarepeatedtoNyamoana’stalkerwhatIhadsaidtohimHedelivereditallverbatimtoherhusband，whorepeateditagaintoherItwasthusallrehearsedfourtimesover，inatoneloudenoughtobeheardbythewholepartyofauditors。
　　Theresponsecamebackbythesameroundaboutroute，beginningattheladytoherhusband，etc。
　　Afterexplanationsandre-explanations，IperceivedthatournewfriendsweremixingupmymessageofpeaceandfriendshipwithMakololoaffairs，andstatedthatitwasnotdeliveredontheauthorityofanyonelessthanthatoftheirCreator，andthatiftheMakololodidagainbreakHislawsandattacktheBalonda，theguiltwouldrestwiththeMakololoandnotwithmeThepalaverthencametoaclose。
　　Bywayofgainingtheirconfidence，Ishowedthemmyhair，whichisconsideredacuriosityinallthisregionTheysaid，“Isthathair？Itisthemaneofalion，andnothairatall。”
　　SomethoughtthatIhadmadeawigoflion’smane，astheysometimesdowithfibresofthe“ife“，anddyeitblack，andtwistitsoastoresembleamassoftheirownwoolIcouldnotreturnthejokebytellingthemthattheirswasnothair，butthewoolofsheep，fortheyhavenoneoftheseinthecountry；andeventhoughtheyhad，asHerodotusremarked，“theAfricansheepareclothedwithhair，andmen’sheadswithwool。”
　　SoIhadtobecontentwithassertingthatminewastherealoriginalhair，suchastheirswouldhavebeenhaditnotbeenscorchedandfrizzledbythesunInproofofwhatthesuncoulddo，Icomparedmyownbronzedfaceandhands，thenaboutthesameincomplexionasthelighter-coloredMakololo，withthewhiteskinofmychest。
　　Theyreadilybelievedthat，astheygonearlynakedandfullyexposedtothatinfluence，wemightbeofcommonoriginafterall。
　　Here，aseverywhere，whenheatandmoisturearecombined，thepeopleareverydark，butnotquiteblackThereisalwaysashadeofbrowninthemostdeeplycoloredIshowedmywatchandpocketcompass，whichareconsideredgreatcuriosities；but，thoughtheladywascalledonbyherhusbandtolook，shewouldnotbepersuadedtoapproachnearenough。