292 RKTRMrSH IN A FOREST. 



party spreading out on both sides of the path. I fortu- 

 nately had a six-barrelled revolver, which my friend 

 Captain Henry Need, of her majesty's brig "Linnet," had 

 considerately sent to Golungo Alto after my departure 

 from Loanda. Taking this in my hand, and forgetting 

 fever, I staggered quickly along the path with two or th: ee 

 of my men, and fortunately encountered the chief. The 

 sight of the six barrels gaping into his stomach, with my 

 own ghastly visage looking daggers at his face, seemed to 

 produce an instant revolution in his martial feelings ; for 

 he cried out, "Oh, I have only come to speak to you, and 

 wish peace only." Mashauana had hold of him by the 

 hand, and found him shaking. We examined his gun, and 

 found that it had been discharged. Both parties crowded 

 up to their chiefs. One of the opposite party coming too 

 near, one of mine drove him back with a battle-axe. The 

 enemy protested their amicable intentions, and my men 

 asserted the fact of having the goods knocked down as 

 evidence of the contrary. "Without waiting long, I re- 

 quested all to sit down ; and Pitsane, placing his hand upon 

 the revolver, somewhat allayed their fears. I then said to 

 the chief, " If you have come with peaceable intentions, 

 we have no other : go away home to your village." He 

 replied, u I am afraid lest you shoot me in the back." I 

 rejoined, " If I wanted to kill you, I could shoot you in 

 the face as well." Mosantu called out to me, " That's 

 only a Makalaka trick : don't give him your back." But 

 I said, " Tell him to observe that I am not afraid of him," 

 and, turning, mounted my ox. There was not much danger 

 in the fire that was opened at first, there being so many 

 trees. The enemy probably expected that the sudden 

 attack would make us forsake our goods and allow them 

 to plunder with ease. The villagers were no doufct 

 pleased with being allowed to retire unscathed, and we 

 were also glad to get aw|iy without having shed a drop of 

 blood or having compromised ourselves for any future visit. 

 My men were delighted with their own bravery, and made 



