408 ACROSS AFRICA. [Chap. 



Many small streams were passed, which occasionally flowed 

 for some distance in subterranean channels. They worked in 

 among loose stones which were covered with soil and vegeta- 

 tion, the under-ground portion of their course being sometimes 

 only some forty yards in length ; but in other instances they 

 seemed to have disappeared altogether, and no doubt helped to 

 supply the water which formed the " burst of the Kutato." 



The following day we arrived at the village of Lungi, the 

 dwelling-place of the head of the Bailunda who were accom- 

 panying me, and halted to enable them to prepare food for 

 the road to Benguela. I was told this would occupy three 

 days, so I decided to have a hut built, instead of remaining that 

 time in my leaky tent. The men also managed to make them- 

 selves comfortable, wood and grass for building a camp being 

 plentiful. 



The wife of the head-man was now taken ill, and he, with 

 an amount of marital affection which was very creditable, would 

 not hear of leaving her until she recovered. 



This arrangement being particularly inconvenient, I tried to 

 reason with him against adhering to his resolve, and, to my sur- 

 prise, I afterward found I was suspected of the evil eye, and 

 was accused of having bewitched the woman by looking at her 

 husband. 



Although this would seem rather an indirect method of 

 bringing about so dire a calamity, yet it was thoroughly be- 

 lieved in, and a fetich-man was brought to give his opinion of 

 my optics. Fortunately, he declared that there was nothing 

 evil about my eye-sight, and informed the head-man that it be- 

 hooved him to assist me in every thing, and that on arriving at 

 Benguela he would And I possessed an open hand. 



This covert appeal to my generosity was not to be resisted, 

 and I could not feel otherwise than grateful for his favorable 

 opinion of me when under suspicion ; so I gave him a piece of 

 cloth out of my scanty stock, bringing my store down to four 

 yards. 



The brother of the guide who had expressed his determina- 

 tion to remain behind to nurse his wife now volunteered to 

 conduct us to Benguela, but had to prepare his food before 

 starting. 



