144 A GOOD-HEARTED SAVAGE. 



to-day — we heard shots." Leaving my guns against 

 the tree, and taldng Chinsoro with me, I advanced 

 unarmed about forty yards towards them, and asked 

 them to come and talk with me, saying that I had 

 been shooting elephants, not men. Upon this Moloka, 

 whom I had told .to stand by the guns, held up one 

 tusk. Several of them then approached, bringing 

 their arms with them. I made Chinsoro tell them 

 that I had left my guns behind, and come to talk to 

 them, therefore they should meet me unarmed. They 

 at once laid down all arms, and a number of them 

 collected round me. They were Ajawahs, and were 

 very civil, one man saying, " You have been hunting 

 all day, and must be hungry — come to my hut." 

 Confessing I was very hungry, I yet refused to accom- 

 pany this good-hearted savage, on the plea that I 

 could not leave my men, but if he would bring me 

 something to the tree to eat I said I would show them 

 all the guns, &c. He was off with a bound, and 

 Chinsoro and I returned to the tree, accompanied 

 by forty or fifty men, to whom Moloka preached a 

 regular sermon, his text being, " This man killed the 

 elephant to whom these tusks belonged with one 

 shot." 



Soon my kind friend returned, bringing me some 

 roast fish and pombe, which I need hardy say I 

 thoroughly enjoyed. Refreshments of a similar kind 

 were also brought for the men with me. I had 

 nothing to offer in return but a few charges of pow- 

 der, which were as thankfully received as if every 

 grain had been a gold sovereign. We then bid 

 them good-bye, and started on our way as fresh as 



