330 ACROSS AFRICA. [Chap. 



February, declaring that the only person who could be compared to him 

 1875. ^y^^ }jjg relative Mata Yafa. 



This was followed by an address from Coimbra, and another 

 from a man on our side wdio spoke Kirna. In these speeches 

 there were much recrimination and self-laudation, and once or 

 twice matters became threatening, but it passed away without 

 any disturbance. 



At the conclusion Kasongo formally confided me to the care 

 of Alvez, telling him that, should any thing happen to me on 

 the journey to the coast, he would be certain to receive intel- 

 ligence of it, and consequently Alvez had better look well after 

 my interest, or never again show his face in Urua. 



Notwithstanding these parting instructions, Alvez deter- 

 mined not to start until the mourning for one of Kasongo^s 

 wives, who had just died, was concluded. That occupied a 

 week, at the end of which time I saw Kasongo looking very 

 seedy and dirty, as well he might, for, according to custom, he 

 had been sleeping nightly with his deceased wife. 



I expressed a hope that we might now leave, but he replied 

 that Alvez had promised to build him a house, and that I must 

 follow his example and do likewise ; but I excused myself on 

 the impossibility of obtaining building materials suitable for a 

 European house. 



Alvez denied point-blank having made any such promise; 

 but in a few days I ascertained that he had volunteered to do 

 this service ; and when I remonstrated with him on his breach 

 of faith, he declared that the house would be erected in four 

 or five days, and that Coimbra had already set about it with a 

 party of men. 



Coimbra returned soon after, and I discovered that he knew 

 nothing concerning the house, but had been engaged on some 

 plundering or murdering expedition in company with a party 

 of Kasongo's people. 



Now I was told the whole caravan must move to Totela, 

 where the building operations were to be carried on, and which 

 was two or three marches on our route to the coast. We were 

 then obliged to wait until Kasongo was ready to select and clear 

 the ground, and prepare the necessary trees for building. 



Day after day was wasted ; puerile excuses of every kind 



