WeheremetwithsomepeoplejustarrivedfromthetownofMatiamvoMuatayanvo,whohadbeensenttoannouncethedeathofthelatechieftainofthatnameMatiamvoisthehereditarytitle,muatameaninglordorchiefThelateMatiamvoseems,fromthereportofthesemen,tohavebecomeinsane,forheissaidtohavesometimesindulgedthewhimofrunningamuckinthetownandbeheadingwhomsoeverhemet,untilhehadquiteaheapofhumanheads。
Matiamvoexplainedthisconductbysayingthathispeopleweretoomany,andhewantedtodiminishthemHehadabsolutepoweroflifeanddeath。
Oninquiringwhetherhumansacrificeswerestillmade,asinthetimeofPereira,atCazembe’s,wewereinformedthatthesehadneverbeensocommonaswasrepresentedtoPereira,butthatitoccasionallyhappened,whencertaincharmswereneededbythechief,thatamanwasslaughteredforthesakeofsomepartofhisbodyHeaddedthathehopedthepresentchiefwouldnotactlikehismadpredecessor,butkillonlythosewhowereguiltyofwitchcraftortheft。
ThesemenwereverymuchastonishedatthelibertyenjoyedbytheMakololo;
andwhentheyfoundthatallmypeopleheldcattle,weweretoldthatMatiamvoalonehadaherdOneveryintelligentmanamongthemasked,“Ifheshouldmakeacanoe,andtakeitdowntherivertotheMakololo,wouldhegetacowforit?”Thisquestion,whichmymenansweredintheaffirmative,wasimportant,asshowingtheknowledgeofawatercommunicationfromthecountryofMatiamvototheMakololo;
andtheriverrunsthroughafertilecountryaboundinginlargetimber。
Ifthetribeshaveintercoursewitheachother,itexertsagoodinfluenceontheirchiefstohearwhatothertribesthinkoftheirdeeds。
TheMakololohavesuchabadname,onaccountoftheirperpetualforays,thattheyhavenotbeenknowninLondaexceptasruthlessdestroyers。
ThepeopleinMatiamvo’scountrysubmittomuchwrongfromtheirchiefs,andnovoicecanberaisedagainstcruelty,becausetheyareafraidtofleeelsewhere。
WeleftQuendende’svillageincompanywithQuendendehimself,andtheprincipalmanoftheembassadorsofMatiamvo,andaftertwoorthreemiles’marchtotheN。W。,cametothefordoftheLotembwa,whichflowssouthwardAcanoewaswaitingtoferryusover,butitwasverytediouswork;for,thoughtheriveritselfwasonlyeightyyardswide,thewholevalleywasflooded,andwewereobligedtopaddlemorethanhalfamiletogetfreeofthewaterAfirewaslittowarmoldQuendende,andenablehimtodryhistobacco-leaves。
Theleavesaretakenfromtheplant,andspreadclosetothefireuntiltheyarequitedryandcrisp;theyarethenputintoasnuff-box,which,withalittlepestle,servesthepurposeofamilltogrindthemintopowder;itisthenusedassnuff。
Aswesatbythefire,theembassadorscommunicatedtheirthoughtsfreelyrespectingthecustomsoftheirraceWhenachiefdies,anumberofservantsareslaughteredwithhimtoformhiscompanyintheotherworld。
TheBarotsefollowedthesamecustom,andthisandotherusagesshowthemtobegenuinenegroes,thoughneithertheynortheBalondaresemblecloselythetypicalformofthatpeopleQuendendesaidifhewerepresentontheseoccasionshewouldhidehispeople,sothattheymightnotbeslaughteredAswegonorth,thepeoplebecomemorebloodilysuperstitious。
WewereassuredthatifthelateMatiamvotookafancytoanything,such,forinstance,asmywatch-chain,whichwasofsilverwire,andwasagreatcuriosity,astheyhadneverseenmetalplaitedbefore,hewouldorderawholevillagetobebroughtuptobuyitfromastranger。
Whenaslave-tradervisitedhim,hetookpossessionofallhisgoods;
then,aftertendaysorafortnight,hewouldsendoutapartyofmentopounceuponsomeconsiderablevillage,and,havingkilledtheheadman,wouldpayforallthegoodsbysellingtheinhabitantsThishasfrequentlybeenthecase,andnearlyallthevisitantsheeverhadweremenofcolor。
OnaskingifMatiamvodidnotknowhewasaman,andwouldbejudged,incompanywiththosehedestroyed,byaLordwhoisnorespectorofpersons?
theembassadorreplied,“WedonotgouptoGod,asyoudo;
weareputintotheground。”Icouldnotascertainthateventhosewhohavesuchadistinctperceptionofthecontinuedexistenceofdepartedspiritshadanynotionofheaven;theyappeartoimaginethesoulstobealwaysneartheplaceofsepulture。
AftercrossingtheRiverLotembwawetraveledabouteightmiles,andcametoKatema’sstragglingtownlat11d35’49“S。,long22d27’E。。
ItismoreacollectionofvillagesthanatownWewereledoutabouthalfamilefromthehouses,thatwemightmakeforourselvesthebestlodgingwecouldofthetreesandgrass,whileIntemesewastakentoKatematoundergotheusualprocessofpumpingastoourpastconductandprofessionsKatemasoonafterwardsentahandsomepresentoffood。
Nextmorningwehadaformalpresentation,andfoundKatemaseatedonasortofthrone,withaboutthreehundredmenonthegroundaround,andthirtywomen,whoweresaidtobehiswives,closebehindhim。
Themainbodyofthepeoplewereseatedinasemicircle,atadistanceoffiftyyardsEachpartyhaditsownheadmanstationedatalittledistanceinfront,and,whenbeckonedbythechief,camenearhimascouncilorsIntemesegaveourhistory,andKatemaplacedsixteenlargebasketsofmealbeforeus,halfadozenfowls,andadozeneggs,andexpressedregretthatwehadslepthungry:
hedidnotlikeanystrangertosufferwantinhistown;andadded,“Gohome,andcookandeat,andyouwillthenbeinafitstatetospeaktomeatanaudienceIwillgiveyouto-morrow。”HewasbusilyengagedinhearingthestatementsofalargebodyoffineyoungmenwhohadfledfromKangenke,chiefofLobale,onaccountofhissellingtheirrelativestothenativePortuguesewhofrequenthiscountryKatemaisatallman,aboutfortyyearsofage,andhisheadwasornamentedwithahelmetofbeadsandfeathersHehadonasnuff-browncoat,withabroadbandoftinseldownthearms,andcarriedinhishandalargetailmadeofthecaudalextremitiesofanumberofgnus。
Thishascharmsattachedtoit,andhecontinuedwavingitinfrontofhimselfallthetimewewerethereHeseemedingoodspirits,laughingheartilyseveraltimesThisisagoodsign,foramanwhoshakeshissideswithmirthisseldomdifficulttodealwithWhenwerosetotakeleave,allrosewithus,asatShinte’s。
Returningnextmorning,Katemaaddressedmethus:“IamthegreatMoenelordKatema,thefellowofMatiamvoThereisnooneinthecountryequaltoMatiamvoandmeIhavealwayslivedhere,andmyforefatherstoo。
ThereisthehouseinwhichmyfatherlivedYoufoundnohumanskullsneartheplacewhereyouareencampedIneverkilledanyofthetraders;
theyallcometomeIamthegreatMoeneKatema,ofwhomyouhaveheard。”
Helookedasifhehadfallenasleeptipsy,anddreamedofhisgreatness。
Onexplainingmyobjectstohim,hepromptlypointedoutthreemenwhowouldbeourguides,andexplainedthatthenorthwestpathwasthemostdirect,andthatbywhichalltraderscame,butthatthewateratpresentstandingontheplainswouldreachuptotheloins;hewouldthereforesendusbyamorenortherlyroute,whichnotraderhadyettraversedThiswasmoresuitedtoourwishes,forweneverfoundapathsafethathadbeentroddenbyslave-traders。
Wepresentedafewarticles,whichpleasedhimhighly:asmallshawl,arazor,threebunchesofbeads,somebuttons,andapowder-horn。
Apologizingfortheinsignificanceofthegift,IwishedtoknowwhatIcouldbringhimfromLoanda,saying,notalargething,butsomethingsmallHelaughedheartilyatthelimitation,andreplied,“Everythingofthewhitepeoplewouldbeacceptable,andhewouldreceiveanythingthankfully;butthecoathethenhadonwasold,andhewouldlikeanother。”IintroducedthesubjectoftheBible,butoneoftheoldcouncilorsbrokein,toldallhehadpickedupfromtheMambari,andglidedoffintoseveralothersubjects。
Itisamiserytospeakthroughaninterpreter,asIwasnowforcedtodo。
Withabodyofmenlikemine,composedastheywereofsixdifferenttribes,andallspeakingthelanguageoftheBechuanas,therewasnodifficultyincommunicatingoncommonsubjectswithanytribewecameto;
butdolingoutastoryinwhichtheyfeltnointerest,andwhichIunderstoodonlysufficientlywelltoperceivethatamereabridgmentwasgiven,wasuncommonlyslowworkNeithercouldKatema’sattentionbearrested,exceptbycompliments,ofwhichtheyhavealwaysplentytobestowaswellasreceiveWewerestrangers,andknewthat,asMakololo,wehadnotthebestofcharacters,yethistreatmentofuswaswonderfullygoodandliberal。
Icomplimentedhimonthepossessionofcattle,andpleasedhimbytellinghimhowhemightmilkthecowsHehasaherdofaboutthirty,reallysplendidanimals,allrearedfromtwowhichheboughtfromtheBalobalewhenhewasyoungTheyaregenerallyofawhitecolor,andarequitewild,runningoffwithgracefuleaselikeaherdofelandsontheapproachofastrangerTheyexcitedtheunboundedadmirationoftheMakololo,andclearlyprovedthatthecountrywaswelladaptedforthem。
WhenKatemawishestoslaughterone,heisobligedtoshootitasifitwereabuffaloMatiamvoissaidtopossessaherdofcattleinasimilarstateInevercouldfeelcertainastothereasonwhytheydonotallpossesscattleinacountrycontainingsuchsplendidpasturage。
AsKatemadidnotofferanox,aswouldhavebeendonebyaMakololoorCaffrechief,weslaughteredoneofourown,andallofusweredelightedtogetamealofmeat,aftersubsistingsolongonthelightporridgeandgreenmaizeofLondaOnoccasionsofslaughteringananimal,somepiecesofitareinthefirebeforetheskinisallremovedfromthebodyAfrying-panfullofthesepieceshavingbeengotquicklyready,mymencrowdedabouttheirfather,andIhandedsomeallroundItwasastrangesighttotheBalonda,whowerelookingon,wonderingIofferedportionstothemtoo,buttheseweredeclined,thoughtheyareexcessivelyfondofalittleanimalfoodtoeatwiththeirvegetabledietTheywouldnoteatwithus,buttheywouldtakethemeatandcookitintheirownway,andthenuseit。
IthoughtatonetimethattheyhadimportedsomethingfromtheMohammedans,andthemoreespeciallyasanexclamationofsurprise,“Allah“,soundsliketheIllahoftheArabs;butwefound,alittlefartheron,anotherformofsalutation,ofChristian?origin,“Ave-rie“AveMarie。
ThesalutationsprobablytravelfartherthanthefaithMypeople,whensatisfiedwithameallikethatwhichtheyenjoysooftenathome,amusedthemselvesbyanuproariousdanceKatemasenttoaskwhatIhadgiventhemtoproducesomuchexcitement。
Intemesereplieditwastheircustom,andtheymeantnoharm。
Thecompanionoftheoxweslaughteredrefusedfoodfortwodays,andwentlowingaboutforhimcontinuallyHeseemedinconsolableforhisloss,andtriedagainandagaintoescapebacktotheMakololocountry。
Mymenremarked,“Hethinkstheywillkillmeaswellasmyfriend。”
Katemathoughtittheresultofart,andhadfearsofmyskillinmedicine,andofcoursewitchcraftHerefusedtoseethemagiclantern。
OneoftheaffairswhichhadbeenintrustedbyShintetoIntemesewastherescueofawifewhohadelopedwithayoungmanbelongingtoKatema。
AsthiswastheonlycaseIhavemetwithintheinteriorinwhichafugitivewassentbacktoachiefagainsthisownwill,IamanxioustomentionitOnIntemeseclaimingherashismaster’swife,sheprotestedloudlyagainstit,saying“sheknewshewasnotgoingbacktobeawifeagain;shewasgoingbacktobesoldtotheMambari。”
MymenformedmanyfriendshipswiththepeopleofKatema,andsomeofthepoorerclassessaidinconfidence,“WewishourchildrencouldgobackwithyoutotheMakololocountry;hereweareallindangerofbeingsold。”MymenwereofopinionthatitwasonlythewantofknowledgeofthesoutherncountrywhichpreventedanexodusofallthelowerportionsofLondapopulationthither。
ItisremarkablehowlittlepeoplelivinginaflatforestcountrylikethisknowofdistanttribesAnoldman,whosaidhehadbeenbornaboutthesametimeasthelateMatiamvo,andhadbeenhisconstantcompanionthroughlife,visitedus;andasIwassittingonsomegrassinfrontofthelittlegipsytentmendingmycampstool,IinvitedhimtotakeaseatonthegrassbesidemeThiswasperemptorilyrefused:
“hehadneversatonthegroundduringthelatechief’sreign,andhewasnotgoingtodegradehimselfnow。”Oneofmymenhandedhimalogofwoodtakenfromthefire,andhelpedhimoutofthedifficulty。
WhenIofferedhimsomecookedmeatonaplate,hewouldnottouchthateither,butwouldtakeithomeSoIhumoredhimbysendingaservanttobearafewouncesofmeattothetownbehindhim。
HementionedtheLoloLuluaasthebranchoftheLeeambyewhichflowssouthwardorS。S。E。;butthepeopleofMatiamvohadnevergonefardownit,astheirchiefhadalwaysbeenafraidofencounteringatribewhom,fromthedescriptiongiven,IcouldrecognizeastheMakololo。
HedescribedfiveriversasfallingintotheLolo,viz。,theLishish,LissorLise,Kalileme,Ishidish,andMolong。
Noneofthesearelarge,butwhentheyareunitedintheLolotheyformaconsiderablestreamThecountrythroughwhichtheLoloflowsissaidtobeflat,fertile,wellpeopled,andtherearelargepatchesofforestInthisreportheagreedperfectlywiththepeopleofMatiamvo,whomwehadmetatQuendende’svillage。