338 ACROSS AFRICA. [Chap. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



Making " Medicine " against Fire. — An Elaborate Operation. — Kasongo's Importu- 

 nate Begging. — Disgraceful Conduct of Alvez's People. — No Mercy for the Weak. 

 — Cringing to the Strong. — Jumah Merikani's Generosity. — The "Fiend Stream." 

 — Strange Trees. — My Men mistake Pombe for Water. — Swamps and Bogs. — 

 Many Slips. — " Sloughs of Despond." — Enormous Ant-hills. — A Monarch dreaded 

 by his People. — Surpassing his Predecessors in Cruelty. — The Biter bit. — A Wel- 

 come Present. — Playing with Fire-arms. — I frighten a Chief out of his Village. — 

 Alvez's Tactics. — A New Arrival. — Endeavors to ol tain Allies. — Driven to Des- 

 peration. — I determine to march Alone. — Result of Firmness. 



June, Before Alvez and his people would consent to marcli they 



1875. declared that " medicine " must be made as a precaution against 

 lire, since it was now the dry season, and the danger from this 

 cause was great, as we had good reason to remember. 



Alvez, though nominally a Christian, appeared to be a iirm 

 believer in divination and incantation, and had engaged a fe- 

 tich-man at Bihe to do this service for the whole journey at 

 the same rate of pay as a porter, with additional perquisites and 

 fees. The ceremony was commenced just before sunset, and I 

 carefully watched the proceedings and noted them as they oc- 

 curred. 



I was much amused, in the first instance, by hearing orders 

 given for the purchase of the cheapest and smallest goat that 

 was to be found, that animal and a fowl being necessary for the 

 performance. 



The place chosen was as near as possible to the spot where 

 the late fire broke out. The mganga and his boy then arrived 

 on the scene with their materials, which consisted of the goat 

 and fowl, a large j)ot of water, a bark trough with a stick fast- 

 ened across the middle, a basket containing clay, a ball made of 

 shreds of bark, mud, and filth, a wooden bowl, some roots and 

 small pieces of stick, a leafless branch, a hoe, knives, an axe, and 

 some Warua pipe-clay. 



