356 ACROSS AFRICA. [Chap. 



July, one of the most loathsome productions of a spurious civili- 

 18'^5- zation. 



It pleased me to hear that, in his opinion, the slaves had run, 

 owing to the opportunities offered by short marches and nu- 

 merous halts, and therefore he should press on to the utmost. 

 I was selfish enough to hope that in consequence of this we 

 might go forward without any more vexatious halts. 



From Kawala we marched by Angolo, and the inhabitants 

 came to us eager to sell flour and corn for beads. 



I now found that Alvez and his people had, in a great meas- 

 ure, made arrangements for providing themselves with stores 

 for the downward journey by obtaining a particular sort of 

 bead. It is not imported from the West Coast, but they had 

 stolen large cpiantities from the Warua, who are particularly 

 fond of them, and buy them from the Arabs. 



Camping for that night in the jungle, we next marched to 

 Lupanda, three days being occupied on the road. The route 

 was well watered, and the villages were embanked and stock- 

 aded; and although the inhabitants of some would have no 

 communication whatever with the caravan, others came freely 

 into camp with corn for sale. The matama harvest had just 

 been gathered, and it w^as cheap and plentiful. 



Just outside a village I saw a dead python thirteen feet eight 

 inches in length, but not of great girth. 



At none of these villages were w^e allowed to enter; but 

 while I was waiting near one for the caravan to come up, two 

 of my men managed to get inside with the intention of trying 

 to buy the rarity of a fowl or goat for me. Directly they 

 were discovered, a shout was raised, and all the peoj^le retreated 

 into an inner palisade, and closed the entrances. 



The inhabitants then began threatening my men with sj^ears 

 from this inner fortification, and they judged it advisable to 

 withdraw. But after a time the people gained confidence, and, 

 seeing only myself and three followers, ventured out to satisfy 

 their curiosity by staring at us from a distance. 



At last I induced one of the natives to come near me ; but, 

 after having a good look, he covered his face with his hands 

 and rushed away with a yell. He had never before seen a 

 white man, and I really believe he thought I was a devil. 



