-

observed in actual fight, as, of throwing one javelin, receiving another on the shield, springing to one side to avoid a third, running backwards and forwards, leaping, &c., Sambanza (Manenko was indisposed), and the spokesman of Nyamoana, stalked backward and forward before Shinte, giving him a full and true account, so far as they knew, of the white man, and his object in passing through the country; recommending him to receive him. well, and send him on his way. Several speakers among his own head men also delivered orations, the women bursting into a plaintive melody between each. This over, Shinte stood up, and the reception was at an end. The power and standing of Shinte among the Balonda chiefs was borne out by the numbers present, there being about a thousand people, and three hundred armed men."

On this occasion no communication passed between Livingstone and Shinte. By some mistake, the former was permitted to take a seat at a considerable distance from the latter; and the one being too dignified to approach his guest, and the other imagining that all was according to etiquette at Kabompo, they parted without exchanging a word; but it was remarked by his attendants that Shinte scarcely took his eyes off Livingstone during the interview. Next day Livingstone was commanded to visit him, and found him frank and straightforward. He was about fifty-five years of age, about the middle height, and of dignified bearing. After discussing Livingstone's plans, he signified his approval of them. After the business was over, Livingstone inquired if he had ever seen a white man before. "Never you are the very first man I have seen with a white skin and straight hair; your clothing, too, is different from any we have ever seen."

INTERVIEW WITH SHINTE.

77

On Beceiving a hint that "Shinte's mouth was bitter for want of tasting ox-flesh," Livingstone presented him with one to his great delight; recommending him to trade in cows with the Makololo, as his country was so well adapted for them. On his return, Livingstone found that this shrewd savage had followed his advice. When Manenko, who was busy preparing a hut and court-yard suitable to her pretensions, heard that the white man had presented her ancle with an ox, she was very wroth. "This white man belonged to her. She had brought him; and therefore the ox was hers, not Shinte's ;" and, ordering her men to bring it, she had it slaughtered, only sending her uncle & leg, w. ih which he appeared to be quite contented. She evidently had her own way with him, as with all others with who n she came in contact.

The magic-lanter, was a never-failing source of interest and instruction everywhere. The simple savages never tired of looking at the pictures, many of them travelling miles to see them; chiefs and peoples inquiring minutely as to the meaning of every picture. As many of them were illustrations of Scripture subjects, he found it a ready means of introducing them to Bible truths. A kind of beer, or mead, is largely drunk among the Balonda; and many cases of intoxication - a thing unknown farther south were observed. Sambanza, the husband of Manenko, got hopelessly tipsy on one occasion, and staggered towards the hut of his wife; and although, as Livingstone says, she "had never promised to love, honor, and obey him,' she had not been 'nursing her wrath to keep it warm:' so she coolly bundled him into the hut, and put him to bed.""

At their last interview, Shinte presented Livingstone with a string of beads, and the end of a common sea-shell

mounted with string, "which is considered, in regions fa. from the sea, of as great value as the lord-mayor's badge in London. He hung it round my neck, and said, 'There! now you have a proof of my friendship.'" For two such shells he afterwards found a slave could be bought; and five of them were considered a handsome price for an elephant's tusk worth ten pounds. After furnishing him with guides, and a stock of provisions, they parted with mutual good wishes, each being serviceable to the other to an extent of which Shinte had little idea.

CHAPTER VI.

VISITS KATEMA'S TOWN, IS HOSPITABLY ENTERTAINED.

THE great explorer was now in regions where his knowledge of the language of the Bechuanas and the Makololo was of no service to him; and he speaks bitterly of the inconvenience and drawbacks of speaking through an interpreter.

From Kabompo to Katema's town, Livingstone and his party passed across a country rich in woods and fertile plains; the latter covered, from a depth of a few inches to several feet, with water, the result of the incessant rains which fell daily. In this vast plain, the rivers which unite to form the Zambesi take their rise. The people at the various villages were very friendly, presenting Livingstone and his party with abundance of food, and even striving who should have the pleasure of entertaining them. The people were very superstitious; their superstition taking the form of a dread and terror of some being or beings unseen, and supposed to be near and dangerous. In the forests, medicines were found fixed to the trees as charms, human faces cut out of the bark, and propitiatory gifts hung in the branches, and bundles of twigs, to which every passer-by added his or her quota; all designed as offerings to the unseen powers, who drew them by fear, and not by love.

Several remarkable chiefs and head men were met and conversed with during this stage of the journey. Mozin

79

kwa, a head man of Katema's, and his wife (he had only one), were far above the ordinary run in intelligence. They had a large and well-kept garden, hedged round The hut and court-yard were surrounded by a living and impenetrable wall of banyan-trees. Cotton grew round all the premises. Plants used as relishes to the insipid porridge of the district, castor-oil plants, Indian brignalls, yams, and sweet-potatoes were carefully and successfully cultivated. Several large trees, planted in the middle of the yard, formed a grateful shade to the huts of the family, who were fine specimens of the negro race at its best Livingstone was much touched by the worth and kindness of this family, and, amongst other things, promised to bring the wife a cloth from the white man's country on his return. But alas! before his return she was dead; and Mozinkwa and his family had forsaken their pleasant huts and gardens; as a Balonda man cannot live in a spot where a favorite wife has died.

In speaking to these people on religious subjects, he found that nothing made so much impression upon them as the fact that the Son of God came down from heaven

to die for men, and really endured death in our stead, out of pure love; and to tell about God, and the place from whence he had come. If this method of interesting them did not succeed, he found it impossible to move them. As human sacrifices had been at one time common among the Balonda, and at the time of Livingstone's visit stil existed in a limited degree, on the occasion of the death of great chiefs, &c., they would really appreciate the sacrifice made by a great being in submitting himself to death in the place of others. Quendende was a snuff-taker, and prepared the titillating powder in a primitive fashion. The leaves of the tobacco-plant, after being dried at the fire,