250 MARIMBA AND HIS SUITE. 



spinning cotton under the shade of a large tree close 

 to the huts. They seemed frightened, but on being 

 told not to run away — that I was a great white chief, 

 who had been sta}dng with Cotondway at Patanda, 

 and had now came to visit Marimba, hearing that he 

 also was a great chief — they no longer exhibited signs 

 of timidity, but conversed freely. At my request one 

 of them set off at once to conduct Moloka and my 

 Patanda guide to the chief, to report my arrival and 

 ask him to come and see me. 



They were not long away, returning soon with Ma- 

 rimba and his suite. As they approaclied I clapped 

 my hands, and the salutation was cordially acknow- 

 ledged. Marimba halting within ten paces of me, 

 examined me in silence from head to foot ; then, at 

 my request, he came and sat with me under the tree. 

 Having presented him with a couple of yards of 

 scarlet cloth and some beads, he was delighted, and 

 very grateful, saying I was too good to give him 

 such a present, when he had come to see me without 

 one. I underwent a long examination as to the 

 cause of my visit to the country, whence I had come, 

 and how long I wished to remain here, &c., &c. 

 Moloka explained that I was a great hunter, who 

 never bought people, but set them free if I found 

 them with the slave sticks on their necks. The chief 

 then left me, taking the Patanda guide, and the man 

 who had accompanied me from the Kamvoo, with him ; 

 and after a long private conversation with them, and 

 being satisfied that I was one of the " right sort," 

 returned and asked me to the village. 



Having called my men together, and ordered them 



