340 ACEOSS AFEICA. [Chap. 



June, sun, and then to the eastward. He afterward took some of the 

 1875. powdered bark from the bowl and rubbed his chest and hands 

 with it and the blood and water, the boy again following his 

 motions. 



More water being poured into the trough, Alvez and many 

 of his men washed their faces in it, and rubbed their hands with 

 the powdered bark ; and a few of my people, although reputed 

 Mohammedans, followed their example. Some of the water 

 was then thrown into the bowl, and the remainder, together 

 with the balls of filthy clay and pieces of stick, into the hole in 

 which the trough had been, which was finally covered by the 

 trough, while the branch was planted at its east end. 



The mganga completed the performance by taking the bowl 

 of water round and sprinkling the huts; and he received the 

 remains of the goat and fowl as his perquisites. 



Throughout the whole ceremony an idea evidently prevailed 

 that the sun was to be propitiated, possibly on account of its 

 being recognized as the source of light and heat. 



I flattered myself that I had quite rid myself of Kasongo by 

 my refusal to listen to his begging ; but in the middle of the 

 night I was aroused, and found him in camp trading with Alvez, 

 who sold him the rifle he had obtained from me for two tusks 

 of ivory. When he saw me, he asked for cartridges ; but, tak- 

 ing no notice of his request, I re-entered my hut and turned in. 



Soon I heard him outside exclaiming, '-'•Bwana Cameroni, 

 vissonghi^ vissonghi P^ (Mr. Cameron, cartridges, cartridges !). 



I laughed at him, and rej^lied, " Kasongo, Kasongo, mssonghi, 

 mssonghi ;''"' but he continued begging until he even asked for 

 one only. 



We were off betimes on the morning of tlie 10th, and made 

 for the direction of the village of Lunga Mandi, a Kilolo or 

 governor of Kasongo's, reported to be ten marches distant, and 

 close to the western boundary of Urua, where supplies of food 

 for crossing Ussambi were to be procured. 



For the first four days we passed over hilly and wooded 

 country with a large number of villages, chiefly fortified. Many 

 of them we were not allowed to enter, as the people were 

 friendly with Daiyi, and feared we had come from Kasongo to 

 attack them. 



