COTONDAYAY S DELIGHT. 243 



or were busy cooking. The first piece of information I 

 received was from the chief liimself, who came to see 

 me shortly after my return. '' The buffaloes are all 

 finished," he said, " and you must kill me and my 

 people more meat to-morrow." I at once produced 

 the tails and handed them to Cotondway. He could 

 scarcely believe his eyes. Blown out as he was with 

 buffalo meat and pombe, he danced with delight. He 

 then ran and fetched four of his wives, whom he made 

 kneel down in front of me, and placing himself beside 

 them, gave the time for " an evening hymn." I asked 

 Chinsoro what this was for, whereupon I was informed 

 that it was to thank me for killing the elephants, also 

 singing my praises. They clapped their hands the 

 whole time the performance lasted. Immediately 

 after this a large pot of pombe was brought as a pre- 

 sent by the wife of the man who had been my guide 

 during the last two days. Of course a present was 

 expected in return, and a small bit of calico and a few 

 beads were thankfully received. 



Cotondway came and sat near me while I ate my 

 dinner, and insisted on being told all about the death 

 of the elephants. I called Moloka over, and he 

 spun the chief a long yarn on the subject. As I 

 lighted my pipe after dinner I asked Cotondway how 

 many days the two elephants would last him and his 

 people, and was amused by his replying only one, 

 if they had not had a blow-out at buffalo, but as they 

 were pretty full now, it w^ould, in all probability, take 

 them two days ! " Now," said he, " you are done your 

 dinner we will have some music and dancing.'^ And 

 the drums were ordered up. I informed my friend 



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