320 TRADING-PARTY TO LOANDA. 



which we had left at Linyanti should arrive, we proceeded 

 to that town, and found the wagon, and every thing we 

 had left in November, 1853, perfectly safe. A grand meet- 

 ing of all the people was called to receive our report and 

 the articles which had been sent by the governor and mer- 

 chants of Loanda. I explained that none of these were 

 my property, but that they were sent to show the friendly 

 feelings of the white men, and their eagerness to enter into 

 commercial relations with the Makololo. I then requested 

 my companions to give a true account of what they had 

 seen. The wonderful things lost nothing in the telling, the 

 climax always being that they had finished the whole world, 

 and had turned only when there was no more land. One 

 glib old gentleman asked, "Then you reached Ma Bobert 

 [Mrs. L.] ?" They were obliged to confess that she lived 

 a little beyond the world. The presents were received with 

 expressions of great satisfaction and delight; and on Sun- 

 day, when Sekeletu made his appearance at church in his 

 uniform, it attracted more attention than the sermon ; and 

 the kind expressions they made use of respecting myself 

 were so very flattering that I felt inclined to shut my eyes. 

 Their private opinion must have tallied with their public 

 report, for I very soon received offers from volunteers to 

 accompany me to the east coast. They said they wished 

 to be able to return and relate strange things like my re- 

 cent companions; and Sekeletu immediately made arrange- 

 ments with the Arab Ben Habid to conduct a fresh party 

 with a load of ivory to Loanda. These, he said, must go 

 with him and learn to trade; they were not to have any 

 thing to do in the disposal of the ivory, but simply look 

 and learn. My companions were to remain and rest them- 

 pHves, and then return to Loanda when the others had 

 come home. Sekeletu consulted me as to sending presents 

 back to the governor and merchants of Loanda; but, not 

 possessing much confidence in this Arab, I advised him to 

 send a present by Pitsane, as he knew who ought to ro- 

 ceive it. 



