TheWatershedbetweenthenorthernandsouthernRiversAdeepValley
RusticBridgeFountainsontheSlopesoftheValleys
VillageofKabinjeGoodEffectsoftheBeliefinthePowerofCharms
DemandforGunpowderandEnglishCalicoTheKasaiVexatiousTrick
WantofFoodNoGameKatende’sunreasonableDemand
AgraveOffenseToll-bridgeKeeperGreedyGuides
FloodedValleysSwimtheNyuanaLokePromptKindnessofmyMen
MakololoRemarksontherichuncultivatedValleys
DifferenceintheColorofAfricansReachaVillageoftheChiboque
TheHeadMan’simpudentMessageSurroundsourEncampmentwithhisWarriorsThePretenseTheirDemandProspectofaFight
WayinwhichitwasavertedChangeourPathSummer
FeverBeehivesandtheHoney-guideInstinctofTrees
ClimbersTheOxSinbadAbsenceofThornsintheForests
PlantpeculiartoaforsakenGardenBadGuides
InsubordinationsuppressedBesetbyEnemiesARobberParty
MoreTroublesDetainedbyIongaPanzaHisVillage
AnnoyedbyBangalaTradersMyMendiscouraged
TheirDeterminationandPrecaution。
24THOFFEBRUARYOnreachingunfloodedlandsbeyondtheplain,wefoundthevillagesthereacknowledgedtheauthorityofthechiefnamedKatende,andwediscovered,also,tooursurprise,thatthealmostlevelplainwehadpassedformsthewatershedbetweenthesouthernandnorthernrivers,forwehadnowenteredadistrictinwhichtheriversflowedinanortherlydirectionintotheKasaiorLoke,neartowhichwenowwere,whiletheriverswehadhithertocrossedwereallrunningsouthward。
Havingmetwithkindtreatmentandaidatthefirstvillage,Katema’sguidesreturned,andwewereledtotheN。N。Wbytheinhabitants,anddescendedintotheveryfirstreallydeepvalleywehadseensinceleavingKolobengAstreamranalongthebottomofaslopeofthreeorfourhundredyardsfromtheplainsabove。
Wecrossedthisbyarusticbridgeatpresentsubmergedthigh-deepbytherainsThetreesgrowingalongthestreamofthislovelyvalleywerethicklyplantedandveryhighManyhadsixtyoreightyfeetofcleanstraighttrunk,andbeautifulflowersadornedthegroundbeneaththem。
Ascendingtheoppositeside,wecame,intwohours’time,toanothervalley,equallybeautiful,andwithastreamalsoinitscentre。
Itmayseemmeretriflingtonotesuchanunimportantthingastheoccurrenceofavalley,therebeingsomanyineverycountryunderthesun;butasthesewerebranchesofthatinwhichtheKasaiorLokeflows,andboththatriveranditsfeedersderivetheirwaterinasingularmannerfromthevalleysides,Imaybeexcusedforcallingparticularattentiontothemorefurrowednatureofthecountry。
Atdifferentpointsontheslopesofthesevalleyswhichwenowforthefirsttimeentered,thereareoozingfountains,surroundedbyclumpsofthesameevergreen,straight,large-leavedtreeswehavenoticedalongthestreamsThesespotsaregenerallycoveredwithamatofgrassyvegetation,andpossessmorethecharacterofbogsthanoffountainsTheyslowlydischargeintothestreambelow,andaresonumerousalongbothbanksastogiveapeculiarcharactertothelandscapeThesegroupsofsylvanvegetationaregenerallyofaroundedform,andthetrunksofthetreesaretallandstraight,whilethoseonthelevelplainsabovearelowandscraggyintheirgrowth。
Therecanbelittledoubtbutthatthewater,whichstandsformonthsontheplains,soaksin,andfindsitswayintotheriversandrivuletsbypercolatingthroughthesoil,andoutbytheseoozingbogs;
andthedifferencebetweenthegrowthofthesetrees,thoughtheybeofdifferentspecies,maybeaproofthatthestuntednessofthoseontheplainsisowingtobeing,inthecourseofeachyear,moresubjectedtodroughtthanmoisture。
ReachingthevillageofKabinje,intheeveninghesentusapresentoftobacco,Mutokuaneor“bang“`Cannabissativa’,andmaize,bythemanwhowentforwardtoannounceourarrival,andamessageexpressingsatisfactionattheprospectofhavingtradewiththecoast。
ThewestingweweremakingbroughtusamongpeoplewhoarefrequentlyvisitedbytheMambariasslave-dealersThistradecausesbloodshed;
forwhenapoorfamilyisselectedasthevictims,itisnecessarytogetridoftheoldermembersofit,becausetheyaresupposedtobeabletogiveannoyancetothechiefafterwardbymeansofenchantments。
Thebeliefinthepowerofcharmsforgoodorevilproducesnotonlyhonesty,butagreatamountofgentledealingThepowerfulareoftenrestrainedintheirdespotismfromafearthattheweakandhelplessmayinjurethembytheirmedicalknowledgeTheyhavemanyfears。
Amanatoneofthevillageswecametoshowedusthegraveofhischild,and,withmuchapparentfeeling,toldusshehadbeenburnedtodeathinherhutHehadcomewithallhisfamily,andbuilthutsarounditinordertoweepforherHethought,ifthegravewereleftunwatched,thewitcheswouldcomeandbewitchthembyputtingmedicinesonthebody。
TheyhaveamoredecidedbeliefinthecontinuedexistenceofdepartedspiritsthananyofthemoresoutherlytribesEventheBarotsepossessitinastrongdegree,foroneofmymenofthattribe,onexperiencingheadache,said,withasadandthoughtfulcountenance,“MyfatherisscoldingmebecauseIdonotgivehimanyofthefoodIeat。”Iaskedwherehisfatherwas。
“AmongtheBarimo。”wasthereply。
Whenwewishedtomoveon,Kabinjerefusedaguidetothenextvillagebecausehewasatwarwithit;but,aftermuchpersuasion,heconsented,providedthattheguideshouldbeallowedtoreturnassoonashecameinsightoftheenemy’svillageThiswefelttobeamisfortune,asthepeopleallsuspectamanwhocomestellinghisowntale;
buttherebeingnohelpforit,wewenton,andfoundtheheadmanofavillageontherivuletKalomba,calledKangenke,averydifferentmanfromwhathisenemyrepresentedWefound,too,thattheideaofbuyingandsellingtooktheplaceofgivingforfriendship。
AsIhadnothingwithwhichtopurchasefoodexceptaparcelofbeadswhichwerepreservedforworsetimes,Ibegantofearthatweshouldsoonbecompelledtosuffermorefromhungerthanwehaddone。
ThepeopledemandedgunpowderforeverythingIfwehadpossessedanyquantityofthatarticle,weshouldhavegotonwell,forhereitisofgreatvalueOnourreturn,nearthisspotwefoundagood-sizedfowlwassoldforasinglechargeofgunpowder。
Nexttothat,Englishcalicowasingreatdemand,andsowerebeads;
butmoneywasofnovaluewhateverGoldisquiteunknown;
itisthoughttobebrass;tradeiscarriedonbybarteralone。
ThepeopleknownothingofmoneyApurse-proudpersonwouldherefeelthegroundmovefrombeneathhisfeetOccasionallyalargepieceofcopper,intheshapeofaStAndrew’scross,isofferedforsale。
FEBRUARY27THKangenkepromptlyfurnishedguidesthismorning,sowewentbrisklyonashortdistance,andcametoapartoftheKasye,Kasai,orLoke,wherehehadappointedtwocanoestoconveyusacross。
Thisisamostbeautifulriver,andverymuchliketheClydeinScotland。
Theslopeofthevalleydowntothestreamisaboutfivehundredyards,andfinelywoodedItis,perhaps,onehundredyardsbroad,andwaswindingslowlyfromsidetosideinthebeautifulgreenglen,inacoursetothenorthandnortheastInboththedirectionsfromwhichitcameandtowhichitwentitseemedtobealternatelyemboweredinsylvanvegetation,orrichmeadowscoveredwithtallgrass。
Themenpointedoutitscourse,andsaid,“Thoughyousailalongitformonths,youwillturnwithoutseeingtheendofit。”
WhileatthefordoftheKasaiweweresubjectedtoatrick,ofwhichwehadbeenforewarnedbythepeopleofShinteAknifehadbeendroppedbyoneofKangenke’speopleinordertoentrapmymen;itwasputdownnearourencampment,asiflost,theownerinthemeantimewatchingtilloneofmymenpickeditupNothingwassaiduntilourpartywasdivided,onehalfonthis,andtheotheronthatbankoftheriver。
Thenthechargewasmadetomethatoneofmymenhadstolenaknife。
Certainofmypeople’shonesty,Idesiredtheman,whowasmakingagreatnoise,tosearchtheluggageforit;theunluckyladwhohadtakenthebaitthencameforwardandconfessedthathehadtheknifeinabasket,whichwasalreadytakenovertheriverWhenitwasreturned,theownerwouldnotreceiveitbackunlessaccompaniedwithafine。
Theladofferedbeads,butthesewererefusedwithscorn。
Ashellhangingroundhisneck,similartothatwhichShintehadgivenme,wastheobjectdemanded,andthevictimofthetrick,asweallknewittobe,wasobligedtopartwithhiscostlyornamentIcouldnotsavehimfromtheloss,asallhadbeenforewarned;anditistheuniversalcustomamongtheMakololoandmanyothertribestoshowwhatevertheymayfindtothechiefpersonoftheircompany,andmakeasortofofferofittohim。
Thisladoughttohavedonesotome;therestofthepartyalwaysobservedthiscustomIfeltannoyedattheimposition,buttheorderweinvariablyfollowedincrossingariverforcedmetosubmit。
Theheadofthepartyremainedtobeferriedoverlast;
so,ifIhadnotcometoterms,Iwouldhavebeen,asIalwayswasincrossingriverswhichwecouldnotswim,completelyinthepoweroftheenemy。
Itwasbutrarelywecouldgetaheadmansowitlessastocrossariverwithus,andremainontheoppositebankinaconvenientpositiontobeseizedasahostageincaseofmybeingcaught。
Thistrickisbutoneofanumberequallydishonorablewhicharepracticedbytribesthatlieadjacenttothemorecivilizedsettlements。
TheBalondafarthereasttoldus,bywayofwarning,thatmanypartiesofthemorecentraltribeshadatvariousperiodssetout,inordertotradewiththewhitementhemselves,insteadofthroughtheMambari,buthadalwaysbeenobligedtoreturnwithoutreachingtheirdestination,inconsequenceofsomanypretextsbeinginventedbythetribesencounteredinthewayforfiningthemoftheirivory。
Thisfordwasin11d15’47“Slatitude,buttheweatherwassoexcessivelycloudywegotnoobservationforlongitude。
Wewerenowinwantoffood,for,tothegreatsurpriseofmycompanions,thepeopleofKangenkegavenothingexceptbywayofsale,andchargedthemostexorbitantpricesforthelittlemealandmanioctheybrought。
TheonlyarticleofbartermymenhadwasalittlefatsavedfromtheoxweslaughteredatKatema’s,soIwasobligedtogivethemaportionofthestockofbeadsOneday29thofwestingbroughtusfromtheKasaitonearthevillageofKatende,andwesawthatwewereinalandwherenohopecouldbeentertainedofgettingsuppliesofanimalfood,foroneofourguidescaughtalight-bluecoloredmoleandtwomiceforhissupper。
ThecarewithwhichhewrappedthemupinaleafandslungthemonhisspeartoldthatwecouldnothopetoenjoyanylargergameWesawnoevidenceofanyanimalsbesides;and,oncomingtothevillagesbeyondthis,weoftensawboysandgirlsengagedindiggingupthesetinyquadrupeds。
Katendesentformeonthedayfollowingourarrival,and,beingquitewillingtovisithim,Iwalked,forthispurpose,aboutthreemilesfromourencampmentWhenweapproachedthevillageweweredesiredtoenterahut,and,asitwasrainingatthetime,wedidso。
Afteralongtimespentingivingandreceivingmessagesfromthegreatman,weweretoldthathewantedeitheraman,atusk,beads,copperrings,orashell,aspaymentforleavetopassthroughhiscountry。
Noone,wewereassured,wasallowedthatliberty,oreventobeholdhim,withoutsomethingofthesortbeingpresentedHavinghumblyexplainedourcircumstances,andthathecouldnotexpectto“catchahumblecowbythehorns“aproverbsimilartooursthat“youcan’tdrawmilkoutofastone“weweretoldtogohome,andhewouldspeakagaintousnextdayIcouldnotavoidaheartylaughatthecoolimpudenceofthesavage,andmadethebestofmywayhomeinthestillpouringrainMymenwererathernettledatthiswantofhospitality,but,aftertalkingoverthematterwithoneofKatende’sservants,heproposedthatsomesmallarticleshouldbegiven,andanattemptmadetopleaseKatende。
Iturnedoutmyshirts,andselectedtheworstoneasasopforhim,andinvitedKatendetocomeandchooseanythingelseIhad,butaddedthat,whenIshouldreachmyownchiefnaked,andwasaskedwhatIhaddonewithmyclothes,IshouldbeobligedtoconfessthatIhadleftthemwithKatendeTheshirtwasdispatchedtohim,andsomeofmypeoplewentalongwiththeservant;theysoonreturned,sayingthattheshirthadbeenaccepted,andguidesandfoodtoowouldbesenttousnextdayThechiefhad,moreover,expressedahopetoseemeonmyreturnHeisreportedtobeverycorpulent。
Thetraderswhohavecomehereseemtohavebeenverytimid,yieldingtoeverydemandmadeonthemostfrivolouspretenses。
Oneofmymen,seeinganothermuchlikeanacquaintanceathome,addressedhimbythenameofthelatterinsport,tellinghim,atthesametime,whyhedidso;thiswaspronouncedtobeagraveoffense,andalargefinedemanded;whenthecasecamebeforemeIcouldseenoharminwhathadbeendone,andtoldmypeoplenottoanswertheyoungfellow。
Thelatterfelthimselfdisarmed,foritischieflyinabrawltheyhavepower;thenwordsarespokeninangerwhichrousethepassionsofthecomplainant’sfriendsInthiscase,aftervociferatingsometime,thewould-beoffendedpartycameandsaidtomymanthat,iftheyexchangedsomesmallgift,allwouldberight,but,mymantakingnonoticeofhim,hewentoffrathercrestfallen。