A HOSTILE MEETING. 41 



waved its loaded ears in the morning breeze ; the sun lighted 

 up in a thousand different colours the dew drops which hung 

 upon every leaf; flickering shadows danced around us. The 

 houses were, however, closed by strong reed doors ; their occu- 

 pants were not to be seen, and soon a report spread that we 

 were to be attacked. We therefore continued our march in 

 close order through the high grass, which would have served 

 as an excellent ambush for an enemy, but no enemy appeared. 

 A short march over grass-clad hills, where now and then we 

 caught a glimpse of a distant mountain, and through open 

 mimosa woods, fantastically lit up in the twilight, took us to 

 Kirembwe, where, notwithstanding my protestations, we were 

 to remain for the night. 



After a long search among the bananas, we at last found 

 suitable huts, and soon after the cries and shouts of the 

 tipsy porters and chiefs were heard, together with the tom- 

 toming of their drums ; like fighting-cocks the chiefs sprang 

 towards each other, brandishing their two spears in a threaten- 

 ing attitude and shrieking furiously. After several minutes, 

 however, both returned in a brotherly manner to the gourd 

 bottles, and a deep draught rewarded them for their exertions. 

 It was a regular beer procession. From village to village, 

 or rather from beer-jug to beer-jug, we marched, on this the 

 thirteenth day since leaving Mruli. 



At midday I was engaged in collecting insects and worms, 

 when all of a sudden a spear struck the ground beside 

 me, and at the same time several shots rang through the 

 banana grove. Being completely unarmed, I returned to 

 my hut, and almost close to my door a man fell, pierced 

 through the right kidney by a spear. Two other men were 

 badly wounded directly afterwards by bullets. In a few 

 minutes our encampment resembled a fortification, for every 

 one was sensible enough to return to it at once. The doors 

 were blocked by hurriedly-torn-up banana trees, and in all the 

 enclosures huts for sentries were erected. Our still half- 

 drunken people stalked about fully armed, and my two chiefs, 

 by this time thoroughly intoxicated, made a brave show with 

 their long guns. The patrols, who had been sent out in all 

 directions, soon returned, bringing with them some ten women 



