XXVIL] A HERD OP ANTELOPE. 359 



ished, and declared I had made a " great medicine " to be en- July, 

 abled to do this. Some of the villagers and several of Alvez's ^^''^■ 

 and my own people put their powers to the test, and one of my 

 men managed to hold out six pieces, but the average was four 

 or five. 



It must be remembered that none of these people had ever 

 before attempted this, and many of them could, doubtless, have 

 far excelled me in other trials of strength ; but I am of opinion 

 that the average muscular power of the native is decidedly less 

 than that of the white man. 



On leaving Lupanda, an entire day was occupied in crossing 

 a marsh of deep mud and frequent streams covered with tingi- 

 tingi, over which we struggled from island to island, and ulti- 

 mately camped on one covered with fine timber. 



At this marsh both the Lomami and Luwembi have their 

 source, and unite after the Luwembi has passed through Lake 

 Iki. 



On the march I saw a herd of small antelope, and succeeded 

 in shooting one after much patient stalking. I directed my 

 men to skin and cut it up, while I went after the remainder of 

 the herd, in the hope of getting another shot. 



When I returned, a squabble had arisen between my men 

 and some of the Bihe people, as the latter asserted a claim to 

 half the buck because the herd had first been noticed by one of 

 them. I settled the dispute by saying that he who first saw 

 the herd should receive a small portion of meat ; but as for the 

 rest, they might go and be hanged. 



To Alvez I sent some as a present, and the ungrateful old 

 rascal immediately demanded more, on the plea that the cara- 

 van was his, and therefore all game shot ought to be brought to 

 him for distribution. It is probable that the message I sent in 

 reply was not entirely satisfactory, nor altogether polite ; but I 

 proceeded at once to appropriate the haunch and the kidneys 

 for myseK, and divided the rest among my own men. 



Besides the buck, I bagged some doves, and consequently 

 had quite a sumptuous meal, consisting of roast haunch of veni- 

 son, broiled dove, and the tender shoots of young ferns boiled 

 for asparagus. 



The next march was through country once very fertile, but 



