VEXATIOUS TRICK. 203 



this morning, so we went briskly on a short distance, and 

 came to a part of the Kasye, Kasai, or Loke, where he 

 had appointed two canoes to convey us across. This is a 

 most beautiful river, and very much like the Clyde in Scot- 

 land. The slope of the valley down to the stream is about 

 five hundred yards, and finely wooded. It is perhaps 

 one hundred yards broad, and was winding slowly from 

 side to side in the beautiful green glen, in a course to the 

 north and northeast. In both the directions from which 

 it came and to which it went it seemed to be alternately 

 embowered in sylvan vegetation or rich meadows covered 

 with tall grass. The men pointed out its course, and said, 

 " Though you sail along it for months, you will turn with- 

 out seeing the end of it." 



While at the ford of the Kasai we were subjected to a 

 trick, of which we had been forewarned by the people of 

 kShinte. A knife had been dropped by one of Kangenke'a 

 people, in order to entrap my men ; it was put down near 

 our encampment, as if lost, the owner in the mean time 

 watching till one of my men picked it up. Nothing was 

 said until our party was divided, one half on this and the 

 other on that bank of the river. Then the charge was 

 made to me that one of my men had stolen a knife. 

 Certain of my people's honesty, I desired the man, who 

 was making a great noise, to search the luggage for it; 

 the unlucky lad who had taken the bait then came forward 

 and confessed that he had the knife in a basket which was 

 already taken over the river. "When it was returned, the 

 owner would not receive it back unless accompanied with 

 a fine. The lad offered beads, but these were refused with 

 scorn. A shell hanging round his neck, similar to that 

 which Shinte had given me, was the object demanded, and 

 the victim of the trick, as we all knew it to be, was obliged 

 to part with his costly ornament. I could not save him 

 from the loss, as all had been forewarned ; and it is the 

 universal custom among the Makololo and many other 

 tribes to show whatever they may find to the chief person 



