172 TAKING AN OATH. 



Livingstone, she said, had gone to Marenga. When 

 told of his reported murder, she laughed at the idea, 

 saying such an act could not have been perpetrated 

 without coming to the ears of her son, who was a 

 powerful chief, and would have at once gone to war 

 with any tribe guilty even of insult to the white man, 

 who was very good and a great friend of her son's. 

 The Johanna men had returned and passed through 

 her village. When told that these men had reported 

 that Mapoonda had taken their guns from them, she 

 seemed very angry, denied that such a thing had been 

 done, and called them " lying cowards ;" evincing 

 much indignation that such a charge should be 

 brought against her son. The messenger soon re- 

 turned and brought with him a book called " First 

 Footsteps of Knowledge," on the fly-leaf of which was 

 written, "This book belongs to Waikatani — Bombay, 

 December, 1864;" on another page, "Waikatani from 

 Dr. Wilson." 



There could be no doubt of the veracity of the old 

 lady's statements, but fearing we did not believe her, 

 she again called upon her ladies in waiting for corro- 

 boration, and they all went through the performance 

 of swearing to their truth. This was done by kiss- 

 ing the ground, rubbing themselves with clay, and 

 beating their breasts and heads for a considerable 

 time. She then retired with her train, saying she 

 would return to-morrow. The only thing remaining 

 now was to ascertain the exact spot where Livingstone 

 crossed the Shire. All agreed it was not here, as he 

 had come to this village along the west bank. 



About five o'clock I started, accompanied by Chin- 



