XXVII.] HAVOC AND DESOLATION. 349 



CHAPTER XXYII. 



Another Fire. — "Medicine" a Delusion. — Havoc and Desolation. — Coimbra's Capt- 

 ures. — Unmerciful Treatment of Women. — He calls Himself a Christian. — Mis- 

 ery and Loss of Life. — Abuse of the Portuguese Flag. — Alvez shares the Flesh 

 and Blood. — The Lovol. — Limit of Oil -palms. — Composition of the Caravan. — 

 Fire again. — Fortification of Msoa. — Mshiri. — "A very Bad Man." — His Power. — 

 His Followers. — Trade in Slaves increasing. — Its Result. — Fate of the Women- 

 slaves. — Probable Export. — Gods of War. — Excessive Heat. — Our Coldest Night. 

 — Alvez loses Slaves. — His Lamentations. — Am taken for a Devil. — Mournful Pro- 

 cession of Slaves. — A Weird Grove. — Mata Yafa. — Vivisection practiced on a 

 Woman. — Rebellion of his Sister-wife. — Marshes. — A Sumptuous Meal. — Burning 

 a Roadway. — Lagoons. — Bee-keeping. 



At the termination of our first march we camped by a chimp July, 

 of trees near a village; but scarcely were the huts built and ^^'^5- 

 tents pitched before the country near us was fired, and it taxed 

 all our vigilance and energy to prevent our camp being burned. 

 The elaborate ceremonial observed in "making medicine" 

 against fire would, therefore, have been of little value, had we 

 not taken effective measures to prevent the flames from reach- 

 ing us. 



The march had been a pleasant one, as far as the country was 

 concerned; but it was exasperating to witness the havoc and 

 desolation caused by the thieving and destructive scoundrels 

 belonging to the caravan. 



When I was ready to pack up the next morning, I was in- 

 formed that no move would be made, a number of slaves hav- 

 ing run during the night — small blame to them! — and their 

 owners having started in pursuit. This annoyed me much, and 

 I was delighted to hear that none were recaptured, and no fur- 

 ther search was to be made. 



During the night some others attempted to bolt, but their 

 masters, rendered more watchful by their previous losses, were 

 awake, and detected them before they could effect their escape. 

 For some hours the camp was ringing with the distressing yells 



