200 DEMAND FOR GUNPOWDER AND CALICO. 



This trade causes bloodshed; for when a poor family ia 

 selected as the victims it is necessary to get rid of the 

 older members of it ; because they are supposed to be able 

 to give annoyance to the chief afterward by means of 

 enchantments. The belief in the power of charms for 

 good or evil produces not only honesty, but a great amount 

 of gentle dealing. The powerful are often restrained in 

 their despotism from a fear that the weak and helpless 

 may injure them by their medical knowledge. 



When we wished to move on, Kabinje refused a guide to 

 the next village, because he was at war with it ; but, after 

 much persuasion, he consented, provided that the guide 

 should be allowed to return as soon as he came in sight 

 of the enemy's village. This we felt to be a misfortune, 

 as the people all suspect a man who comes telling his own 

 tale ; but, there being no help for it, we went on, and found 

 the head-man of a village on the rivulet Kalomba, called 

 Kangenke, a very different man from what his enemy 

 represented. We found, too, that the idea of buying and 

 selling took the place of giving for friendship. As I had 

 nothing with which to purchase food except a parcel of 

 beads, which were preserved for worse times, I began to fear 

 that we should soon be compelled to suffer more from 

 hunger than we had done. The people demanded gun- 

 powder for every thing. If we had possessed any quan- 

 tity of that article, we should have got on well, for here 

 it is of great value. On our return, near this spot we 

 found a good-sized fowl was sold for a single charge of 

 gunpowder. Next to that, English calico was in great 

 demand, and so were beads ; but money was of no value 

 whatever. Gold is quite unknown ; it is thought to be 

 brass : trade is carried on by barter alone. The people 

 know nothing of money. A purse-proud person would 

 here feel the ground move from beneath his feet. Occasion- 

 all} 7 a large piece of copper, in the shape of a St. Andrew's 

 cross, is offered for sale. 



February 27. — Kangenke promptly furnished guides 



