XV PORTUGUESE SLAVE TRADER 305 



canoe, and, after about an hour's conference with 

 the Batongas, came up to our hut, and told us that 

 everything was settled. How, I do not know, 

 unless it was owing to the arrival of a Portuguese 

 trader from Nhaucoe with a strong detachment of 

 Shakundas, all armed with guns, which had taken 

 place during, or just prior to, the conference. In 

 the evening, the Batongas retired to their several 

 kraals, blowing what seemed to be shrill notes of 

 defiance upon their reed trumpets. Later on, I 

 went across to the island to see the newly-arrived 

 Portuguese. He was a small, sallow, dried-up-looking 

 specimen of humanity, Samoes by name. He had 

 with him several girls, whom he wanted to sell for 

 ivory. 



November 18//;. — Still detained here for want of 

 carriers. Bought a canoe for three and a half 

 fathoms of cloth ; sent messengers to the Chief of 

 the Batongas, asking for carriers and guides to 

 Nhaucoe. In the evening our messengers returned, 

 bringing seven Batonga carriers sent by the Enciuna 

 to help us on. The entire clothing worn by four 

 of these men consisted of eight porcupine quills 

 stuck through holes in their ears. In the evening 

 bought a second canoe for two cotton sheets, a yard 

 of limbo, and half a pound of beads. 



November i^th. — Packed up the donkeys, the 

 canoes, and the carriers, and once more made a start 

 for Nhaucoe. Saw some hippopotami in the river, 

 and several fine flights of Egyptian and spur-wingcd 

 geese in the course of the morning. About four 

 in the afternoon we reached some Batonga kraals, 

 from one of which a fellow emerged carrying a huge 

 musical (or, rather, unmusical) instrument. I'he 

 dreadful contrivance consisted of a few flat pieces 



X 



