DETAINED BY MANENK0. 161 



family was to be suspected of dealing in evil charms, why 

 were Masiko's people not to be thought guilty of leaving 

 the same in her hut ? She advanced and receded in true 

 oratorical style, belaboring her own servants as well for 

 allowing the offence, and, as usual in more civilized femi- 

 nine lectures, she leaned over the objects of her ire, and 

 screamed forth all their faults and failings ever since they 

 were born, and her despair of ever seeing them become 

 better until they were all "killed by alligators." Masiko's 

 people followed the plan of receiving this torrent of abuse 

 in silence, and, as neither we nor they had any thing to 

 eat, we parted next morning. In reference to Masiko 

 selling slaves to the Mambari, they promised to explain 

 the relationship which exists between even the most abject 

 of his people and our common Father; and that no more 

 kidnapping ought to be allowed, as he ought to give that 

 peace and security to the smaller tribes on his eastern 

 borders which he so much desired to obtain himself from 

 the Makololo. We promised to return through his town 

 when we came back from the sea-coast. 



Manenko gave us some manioc-roots in the morning, 

 and had determined to carry our baggage to her uncle's, 

 Kabompo or Shinte. We had heard a sample of what 

 she could do with her tongue; and, as neither my men nor 

 myself had much inclination to encounter a scolding from 

 this black Mrs. Caudle, we made ready the packages ; but 

 she came and said the men whom she had ordered for the 

 service had not yet come : they would arrive to-morrow. 

 Being on low and disagreeable diet, I felt annoyed at this 

 further delay, and ordered the packages to be put into the 

 canoes to proceed up the river without her servants. But 

 Manenko was not to be circumvented in this way : she 

 came forward with her people, and said her uncle would 

 be angry if she did not carry forward the tusks and goods 

 of Sekeletn, seized the luggage, and declared that she 

 would carry it in spite of me. My men succumbed sooner 

 to this petticoat-government than I felt inclined to do, and 



L 14* 



