a „ . TrT>T/-^ T>T> A ^r-r,T^r, " 



MAKING PRAYERS. 233 



ters were carrjdng, he led the way to the village. As 

 we passed through different bodies of men they all 

 clapped their hands ; but as the chief swaggered along 

 without taking any notice, I considered myself bound, 

 in order to keep up my position, to do the same. 



I was shown a fine hut, but chose instead a large 

 tree on the outskirts of the village, under which I took 

 up my post. In a few minutes a large pot of pombe, 

 four fowl, and some flour were presented to me by 

 Cotondway. I thanked him, and told him that as the 

 evening was a good time for hunting, if he would let 

 one of his men who knew the surrounding jungles 

 accompany me, I would try and shoot something when 

 I had taken some grub. 



" Oh !" said he, "I want meat badly. I have not 

 tasted good meat for a long time. You shall have a 

 good man, but don't go till I return." 



Chinsoro having made me some coffee, with a pot 

 of preserved beef and some biscuits, I made a good 

 lunch. It was now long after three o'clock, and 

 being anxious to be off, but no guide arriving, I sent 

 Chinsoro to the chiefs tent to say I was waiting to start. 

 The boy soon returned, laughing, and informed me 

 that the chief, who was "making" his prayers, had told 

 him that I could not leave yet. Taking Chinsoro with 

 me, therefore, I repaired to Cotondway's tent, and as I 

 approached heard several people singing inside. On 

 looking in at the door I saw my friend, with his wives 

 round him, making little piles of flour on the ground,* 

 singing over them for a few minutes, and then mix- 

 ing them up with clay, operations which he kept con- 

 tinually repeating. On asking Chinsoro what he was 



