theBalondamenremarkedthatthepicturewasmuchmorelikeagodthanthethingsofwoodorclaytheyworshipedIexplainedthatthismanwasthefirstofaracetowhomGodhadgiventheBiblewenowheld,andthatamonghischildrenourSaviorappearedTheladieslistenedwithsilentawe;but,whenImovedtheslide,theuplifteddaggermovingtowardthem,theythoughtitwastobesheathedintheirbodiesinsteadofIsaac’s“Mother!mother!”allshoutedatonce,andofftheyrushedhelter-skelter,tumblingpell-mellovereachother,andoverthelittleidol-hutsandtobacco-bushes:wecouldnotgetoneofthembackagainShinte,however,satbravelythroughthewhole,andafterwardexaminedtheinstrumentwithinterestAnexplanationwasalwaysaddedaftereachtimeofshowingitspowers,sothatnooneshouldimaginetherewasaughtsupernaturalinit;
andhadMrMurray,whokindlybroughtitfromEngland,seenitspopularityamongbothMakololoandBalonda,hewouldhavebeengratifiedwiththedirectionhisgenerositythentookItwastheonlymodeofinstructionIwaseverpressedtorepeatThepeoplecamelongdistancesfortheexpresspurposeofseeingtheobjectsandhearingtheexplanations。
Onecannotgetawayquicklyfromthesechiefs;theyliketohavethehonorofstrangersresidingintheirvillagesHerewehadanadditionalcauseofdelayinfrequentrains;twenty-fourhoursneverelapsedwithoutheavyshowers;everythingisaffectedbythedampness;
surgicalinstrumentsbecomeallrusty,clothingmildewed,andshoesmouldy;
mylittletentwasnowsorottenandsofullofsmallholesthateverysmartshowercausedafinemisttodescendonmyblanket,andmademefaintocovertheheadwithitHeavydewslayoneverythinginthemorning,eveninsidethetent;thereisonlyashorttimeofsunshineintheafternoon,andeventhatissointerruptedbythunder-showersthatwecannotdryourbedding。
Thewindscomingfromthenorthalwaysbringheavycloudsandrain;
inthesouth,theonlyheavyrainsnoticedarethosewhichcomefromthenortheastoreastThethermometerfallsaslowas72Degreeswhenthereisnosunshine,though,whentheweatherisfair,theprotectedthermometergenerallyrisesashighas82Degrees,eveninthemorningsandevenings。
24THWeexpectedtohavestartedto-day,butSambanza,whohadbeensentoffearlyinthemorningforguides,returnedatmiddaywithoutthem,anddrunkThiswasthefirstcaseofrealbabblingintoxicationwehadseeninthisregionTheboyaloa,orbeerofthecountry,hasmoreofastupefyingthanexcitingnature;hencethebeer-bibbersaregreatsleepers;theymayfrequentlybeseenlyingontheirfacessoundasleepThispeculiarityofposturewasascribed,bynolessanauthoritythanAristotle,towine,whilethosewhoweresentasleepbybeerwerebelieved“tolieupontheirbacks。”
Sambanzahadgotintoastateofinebriationfromindulginginmead,similartothatwhichShintepresentedtous,whichismuchmorepowerfulthanboyaloaAsfaraswecouldcollectfromhisincoherentsentences,Shintehadsaidtherainwastooheavyforourdeparture,andtheguidesstillrequiredtimeforpreparationShintehimselfwasbusygettingsomemealreadyformyuseinthejourneyAsitrainednearlyallday,itwasnosacrificetosubmittohisadviceandremain。
SambanzastaggeredtoManenko’shut;she,however,whohadneverpromised“tolove,honor,andobeyhim。”hadnotbeen“nursingherwrathtokeepitwarm。”soshecoollybundledhimintothehut,andputhimtobed。
Asthelastproofoffriendship,Shintecameintomytent,thoughitcouldscarcelycontainmorethanoneperson,lookedatallthecuriosities,thequicksilver,thelooking-glass,books,hair-brushes,comb,watch,etc。,etc。,withthegreatestinterest;
thenclosingthetent,sothatnoneofhisownpeoplemightseetheextravaganceofwhichhewasabouttobeguilty,hedrewoutfromhisclothingastringofbeads,andtheendofaconicalshell,whichisconsidered,inregionsfarfromthesea,ofasgreatvalueastheLordMayor’sbadgeisinLondonHehungitroundmyneck,andsaid,“There,nowyouHAVEaproofofmyfriendship。”
Mymeninformedmethattheseshellsaresohighlyvaluedinthisquarter,asevidencesofdistinction,thatfortwoofthemaslavemightbebought,andfivewouldbeconsideredahandsomepriceforanelephant’stuskworthtenpoundsAtourlastinterviewoldShintepointedoutourprincipalguide,Intemese,amanaboutfifty,whowas,hesaid,orderedtoremainbyustillweshouldreachthesea;
thatIhadnowleftSekeletufarbehind,andmusthenceforthlooktoShintealoneforaid,andthatitwouldalwaysbemostcheerfullyrendered。
Thiswasonlyapolitewayofexpressinghiswishesformysuccess。
Itwasthegoodwordsonlyoftheguideswhichweretoaidmefromthenextchief,Katema,ontothesea;theyweretoturnbackonreachinghim;buthegaveagoodsupplyoffoodforthejourneybeforeus,and,aftermentioningasareasonforlettingusgoevennowthatnoonecouldsaywehadbeendrivenawayfromthetown,sincewehadbeenseveraldayswithhim,hegaveamostheartysalutation,andwepartedwiththewishthatGodmightblesshim。
LeaveShinteManiocGardensModeofpreparingthepoisonouskind
ItsgeneralUsePresentsofFoodPunctiliousnessoftheBalonda
TheirIdolsandSuperstitionDressoftheBalonda
VillagesbeyondLonajeCazembeOurGuidesandtheMakololo
NightRainsInquiriesforEnglishcottonGoodsIntemese’sFiction
VisitfromanoldManTheftIndustryofourGuide
LossofPontoonPlainscoveredwithWaterAffectionoftheBalondafortheirMothersANightonanIslandTheGrassonthePlains
SourceoftheRiversLoanoftheRoofsofHutsAHalt
FertilityoftheCountrythroughwhichtheLokaluejeflows
OmnivorousFishNatives’Modeofcatchingthem
TheVillageofaHalf-brotherofKatema,hisSpeechandPresent
OurGuide’sPerversityMozenkwa’spleasantHomeandFamily
ClearWaterofthefloodedRiversAMessengerfromKatema
Quendende’sVillage:hisKindnessCropofWool
MeetPeoplefromtheTownofMatiamvoFiresideTalk
Matiamvo’sCharacterandConductPresentationatKatema’sCourt:
hisPresent,goodSense,andAppearanceInterviewonthefollowingDay
CattleAFeastandaMakololoDanceArrestofaFugitive
DignifiedoldCourtierKatema’slaxGovernment
ColdWindfromtheNorthCanariesandothersingingBirds
Spiders,theirNestsandWebsLakeDiloloTradition
SagacityofAnts。
26THLeavingShinte,witheightofhismentoaidincarryingourluggage,wepassed,inanortherlydirection,downthelovelyvalleyonwhichthetownstands,thenwentalittletothewestthroughprettyopenforest,andsleptatavillageofBalonda。
Inthemorningwehadafinerangeofgreenhills,calledSaloisho,onourright,andwereinformedthattheywereratherthicklyinhabitedbythepeopleofShinte,whoworkediniron,theoreofwhichaboundsinthesehills。
ThecountrythroughwhichwepassedpossessedthesamegeneralcharacterofflatnessandforestthatwenoticedbeforeThesoilisdark,withatingeofredinsomeplacesitmightbecalledredandappearedveryfertileEveryvalleycontainedvillagesoftwentyorthirtyhuts,withgardensofmanioc,whichhereislookeduponasthestaffoflife。
VerylittlelaborisrequiredforitscultivationTheearthisdrawnupintooblongbeds,aboutthreefeetbroadandoneinheight,andintheseareplantedpiecesofthemaniocstalk,atfourfeetapart。
Acropofbeansorground-nutsissownbetweenthem,andwhenthesearereapedthelandaroundthemaniocisclearedofweeds。
Infromtentoeighteenmonthsafterplanting,accordingtothequalityofthesoil,therootsarefitforfoodThereisnonecessityforreapingsoon,astherootsdonotbecomebitteranddryuntilafterthreeyearsWhenawomantakesuptheroots,shethrustsapieceortwooftheupperstalksintotheholeshehasmade,drawsbackthesoil,andanewcropistherebybegunTheplantgrowstoaheightofsixfeet,andeverypartofitisuseful:theleavesmaybecookedasavegetableTherootsarefromthreetofourinchesindiameter,andfromtwelvetoeighteenincheslong。
Therearetwovarietiesofthemaniocorcassavaonesweetandwholesome,theotherbitterandcontainingpoison,butmuchmorespeedyinitsgrowththantheformerThislastpropertycausesitsperpetuation。
WhenwereachedthevillageofKapende,onthebanksoftherivuletLonaje,wewerepresentedwithsomuchofthepoisonouskindthatwewereobligedtoleaveitTogetridofthepoison,thepeopleplaceitfourdaysinapoolofwaterItthenbecomespartiallydecomposed,andistakenout,strippedofitsskin,andexposedtothesunWhendried,itiseasilypoundedintoafinewhitemeal,closelyresemblingstarch,whichhaseitheralittleofthepeculiartastearisingfromdecomposition,ornomoreflavorthanstarchWhenintendedtobeusedasfood,thismealisstirredintoboilingwater:theyputinasmuchascanbemoistened,onemanholdingthevesselandtheotherstirringtheporridgewithallhismightThisisthecommonmessofthecountryThoughhungry,wecouldjustmanagetoswallowitwiththeaidofalittlehoney,whichIsharedwithmymenaslongasitlastedItisveryunsavoryScottice:wersh;andnomatterhowmuchonemayeat,twohoursafterwardheisashungryaseverWhenlessmealisemployed,themessisexactlylikeabasinofstarchinthehandsofalaundress;andifthestarchweremadefromdiseasedpotatoes,someideamightbeformedoftheBalondaporridge,whichhungeraloneforcedustoeatSanturuforbadehisnoblestoeatit,asitcausedcoughingandexpectoration。
Ourchiefguide,Intemese,sentorderstoallthevillagesaroundourroutethatShinte’sfriendsmusthaveabundanceofprovisionsOurprogresswasimpededbythetimerequisiteforcommunicatingthechief’sdesireandconsequentpreparationofmealWereceivedfarmorefoodfromShinte’speoplethanfromhimselfKapende,forinstance,presentedtwolargebasketsofmeal,threeofmaniocrootssteepedanddriedinthesunandreadytobeconvertedintoflour,threefowls,andseveneggs,withthreesmoke-driedfishes;
andothersgavewithsimilarliberalityIgavetotheheadmensmallbunchesofmystockofbeads,withanapologythatwewerenowonourwaytothemarketforthesegoodsThepresentwasalwayspolitelyreceived。
WehadanopportunityofobservingthatourguideshadmuchmoreetiquettethananyofthetribesfarthersouthTheygaveusfood,butwouldnotpartakeofitwhenwehadcookedit,norwouldtheyeattheirownfoodinourpresenceWhenitwascookedtheyretiredintoathicketandatetheirporridge;thenallstoodup,andclappedtheirhands,andpraisedIntemeseforitTheMakololo,whoareaccustomedtothemostfreeandeasymanners,heldouthandfulsofwhattheyhadcookedtoanyoftheBalondanear,buttheyrefusedtotasteTheyareverypunctiliousintheirmannerstoeachotherEachhuthasitsownfire,andwhenitgoesouttheymakeitafreshforthemselvesratherthantakeitfromaneighborIbelievemuchofthisarisesfromsuperstitiousfears。
Inthedeep,darkforestsneareachvillage,asalreadymentioned,youseeidolsintendedtorepresentthehumanheadoralion,oracrookedsticksmearedwithmedicine,orsimplyasmallpotofmedicineinalittleshed,orminiaturehutswithlittlemoundsofearthinthem。
Butinthedarkerrecesseswemeetwithhumanfacescutinthebarkoftrees,theoutlinesofwhich,withthebeards,closelyresemblethoseseenonEgyptianmonumentsFrequentcutsaremadeonthetreesalongallthepaths,andofferingsofsmallpiecesofmaniocrootsorearsofmaizeareplacedonbranchesTherearealsotobeseeneveryfewmilesheapsofsticks,whicharetreatedincairnfashion,byeveryonethrowingasmallbranchtotheheapinpassing;orafewsticksareplacedonthepath,andeachpasser-byturnsfromhiscourse,andformsasuddenbendintheroadtoonesideItseemsasiftheirmindswereeverindoubtanddreadinthesegloomyrecessesoftheforest,andthattheywerestrivingtopropitiate,bytheirofferings,somesuperiorbeingsresidingthere。
ThedressoftheBalondamenconsistsofthesoftenedskinsofsmallanimals,asthejackalorwildcat,hungbeforeandbehindfromagirdleroundtheloinsThedressofthewomenisofanondescriptcharacter;
buttheywerenotimmodestTheystoodbeforeusasperfectlyunconsciousofanyindecorumaswecouldbewithourclotheson。
But,whileignorantoftheirowndeficiency,theycouldnotmaintaintheirgravityatthesightofthenudityofmymenbehind。
Muchtotheannoyanceofmycompanions,theyounggirlslaughedoutrightwhenevertheirbackswereturnedtothem。
AftercrossingtheLonaje,wecametosomeprettyvillages,embowered,asthenegrovillagesusuallyare,inbananas,shrubs,andmanioc,andnearthebanksoftheLeebaweformedourencampmentinanestofserpents,oneofwhichbitoneofourmen,butthewoundwasharmlessThepeopleofthesurroundingvillagespresenteduswithlargequantitiesoffood,inobediencetothemandateofShinte,withoutexpectinganyequivalent。
OnevillagehadlatelybeentransferredhitherfromthecountryofMatiamvo。
They,ofcourse,continuetoacknowledgehimasparamountchief;
butthefrequentinstanceswhichoccurofpeoplechangingfromonepartofthecountrytoanother,showthatthegreatchiefspossessonlyalimitedpowerTheonlypeculiarityweobservedinthesepeopleisthehabitofplaitingthebeardintoathree-foldcord。
ThetownoftheBalondachiefCazembewaspointedouttousaslyingtotheN。EandbyEfromthetownofShinte,andgreatnumbersofpeopleinthisquarterhavegonethitherforthepurposeofpurchasingcopperanklets,madeatCazembe’s,andreportthedistancetobeaboutfivedays’journey。
ImadeinquiriesofsomeoftheoldestinhabitantsofthevillagesatwhichwewerestayingrespectingthevisitofPereiraandLacerdatothattownAnoldgray-headedmanrepliedthattheyhadoftenheardofwhitemenbefore,butneverhadseenone,andaddedthatonehadcometoCazembewhenourinformantwasyoung,andreturnedagainwithoutenteringthispartofthecountryThepeopleofCazembeareBalondaorBaloi,andhiscountryhasbeentermedLonda,Lunda,orLui,bythePortuguese。