256 marimba's present, 



ployed a brother of the chief's came and said he want- 

 ed to speak to me privately. Taking Chinsoro, as 

 usual, for my interpreter, and walking with him a 

 little distance, he informed me that Marimba was 

 anxious to make me a present, as I had been so kind 

 to him, and wished to know if I would accept one. 

 Replying in the affirmative, and asking what the chief 

 was going to present, I was informed that the gift was 

 to be a young lady. Determined to see the fan out, 

 though I had not the remotest idea of depriving the 

 village of one of its swarthy beauties, I said I was quite 

 agreeable. 



^' Then come with me," said he, " and I will show 

 her to you, so that you may see if you like her ;" and 

 off we went through the village. At last we reached a 

 small enclosure, which we entered, and there I saw 

 two women hard at work grinding corn. One was an 

 ugly old creature of about sixty, while the other was a 

 tall and decidedly good-looking damsel, whose head 

 had not yet been hardened by the sun of more than 

 sixteen summers. Of course I had little difficulty in 

 making up my mind as to which was the one intended 

 by the chief for me. We sat down at a respectful dis- 

 tance, and watched these women as they went on with 

 their work, evidently unconscious of the coming 

 event. 



After the lapse of a few minutes, my friend asked 

 me if I liked her ; and on my informing him that she 

 " would do," and begging him to introduce me, that we 

 might talk to each other, he said, " Oh ! no, you must 

 first come with me and tell the chief that you like 

 her." So off we went to Marimba. Opening the 



