TRIBUTE DEMANDED. 301 



We exhibited the pictures of the magic lantern in the 

 evening, and all were delighted except Kawawa himself. 

 He showed symptoms of dread, and several times started 

 up as if to run away, but was prevented by the crowd 

 behind. Some of the more intelligent understood the ex- 

 planations well, and expatiated eloquently on them to the 

 more obtuse. Nothing could exceed the civilities which 

 had passed between us during this day ; but Kawawa had 

 heard that the Chiboque had forced us to pay an ox, and 

 now thought he might do the same. When, therefore, I 

 sent next morning to let him know that we were ready to 

 start, he replied, in his figurative way, "If an ox come in 

 the way of a man, ought he not to eat it ? I had given 

 one to the Chiboque, and must give him the same, together 

 with a gun, gunpowder, and a black robe, like that he had 

 seen spread out to dry the day before ; that, if I refused an 

 ox, I must give one of my men, and a book by which he 

 might see the state of Matiamvo's heart toward him, and 

 which would forewarn him should Matiamvo ever resolve 

 to cut off his head." Kawawa came in the coolest manner 

 possible to our encampment after sending this message, 

 and told me he had seen all our goods and must have all 

 he asked, as he had command of the Kasai in our front, 

 and would prevent us from passing it unless we paid this 

 tribute. I replied that the goods were my property and 

 not his ; that I would never have it said that a white man 

 had paid tribute to a black, and that I should cross the 

 Kasai in spite of him. He ordered his people to arm them- 

 selves, and when some of my men saw them rushing for 

 their bows, arrows, and spears, they became somewhat 

 panic-stricken. I ordered them to move away, and not to 

 tire unless Kawawa's people struck the first blow. I took 

 the lead, and expected them all to follow, as they usually 

 had done ; but many of my men remained behind. When 

 I knew this, I jumped off the ox and made a rush to them 

 with the revolver in my hand. Kawawa ran away among 

 his people, and they turned their backs too. I shouted to 



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