lOO HUNTING TRIPS IN NORTHERN RHODESIA. 



medicine they use is distilled from the bark of the mwavi tree, and many of them die 

 every year from this cause. 



They have many weird customs, some of which are connected with putting 

 useless and " not wanted " people out of the way ; but, of course, when such 

 occurrences come to light, they are most severely dealt with by the officials. The 

 non-official is more likely to hear of such matters than the official, for of course the 

 natives know that they would be punished for doing these things. I know a case of 

 a native coming to a white man and asking for medicine to poison his mother-in-law. 

 Of course he did not get it ; but he doubtless managed to get rid of her in some other 

 way. They often dig corpses up, as they use certain parts of the bodies as fetishes and 

 medicine. 



The two most warlike races in this country are the Awemba and Angoni. The 

 former live east and south-east of Lake Bangweolo, and the latter inhabit the country 

 round Fort Jameson and the country to the north-east. The Awemba are much the 

 finer race, for, although the Angoni are descended from the Zulu stock that invaded 

 this country, they are now much intermixed with inferior tribes and have been spoilt 

 by civilisation. 



Both the Awemba and Angoni are, as a rule, medium-sized, wiry men, but the 

 former are much harder and pluckier. 



The race that make the best personal servants are the Yaos, whose country is to 

 the south-east of Lake Nyasa. They were formerly known as the Ajawa. The Yaos 

 are intelligent, and more faithful than any other race I know of. The Atonga, who 

 inhabit the country to the east of Lake Nyasa, are a very intelligent race, but they 

 are fearful rogues. There are many other races in Northern Rhodesia, such as the 

 Akunda, Asenga, Achewa, Awisa, Asimba, Alala, Watwa, etc. Before the whites 

 took over the administration of this country there was perpetual internecine war, the 

 aggressors being the stronger tribes, such as the Angoni and Awemba, who were 

 raided in their turn by the slave-dealing Arabs. I doubt whether the warlike tribes 

 like the present state of affairs, for the natives like excitement, and man-hunting was 

 exciting sport for them. The native question in all the African colonies is a forth- 

 coming problem ; so long as the natives are properly in hand they should be kept so. 



We have only to glance at the history of different native risings and wars, such 

 as the Indian Mutiny and Matabele Rebellion, for example, to see that stern measures 

 pay best in the end and save bloodshed and money. 



The natives in this country have not yet given any trouble to speak of, and our 

 great safety lies in the fact that there are so many different tribes, who have little in 

 common. 



