THE chief's kindness. 179 



for the meat with his son when the moon had risen, 

 he led the way home. 



After sixteen hours' walking, I found myself once 

 more in this jolly fellow's village. Nothing could 

 exceed his kindness, and his wives paid me the great- 

 est attention — arranging a new mat for me to sit on, 

 bringing me pombe and fried fish, and subsequently 

 fire for the pipe. He lived within a neat enclosure in 

 the centre of his village. All the people came to see 

 me, and have a good stare ; but as I was very tired, 

 and anxious to get home, I fear I did not amuse them 

 much. Telling the chief I would give him a canister 

 of powder in the morning, I bid him good-bye. 

 " No," said he, '' you must not go by yourself It is 

 dark ; there are leopards " (called by these people 

 nyaloogwe) '^and lions in the woods, and you have no 

 medicine on your gun." I tried to persuade him that 

 I did not in the least fear returning alone, but it was 

 of no avail, so shouldering his trusty piece, he led the 

 way. On arriving at the boat, I gave him the pow- 

 der I had promised, and nothing could exceed his 

 gratitude. He said this would have been an ample 

 present had he showed me the elephants, but now he 

 did not deserve it, and having made me promise to 

 return again, when he assured me there would be 

 plenty of elephants, he went away. I quite took a 

 fancy to this curious character, and regretted having 

 to leave him. 



We did not sail before noon next day, and as it was 

 a dead calm, the Makololos had their work cut out. 

 However, there is some current here to assist them. 

 Pamalombe Lake was entered at 4 p.m., and we were 



N 2 



