316 CLOTHING DESPISED. 



their shields, as in the case of my first company. We 

 were looked upon as unarmed, and an easy prey. We 

 prepared against a night-attack by discharging and re- 

 loading our guns, which were exactly the same in number 

 (five) as on the former occasion, as I allowed my late com- 

 panions to retain those which I purchased at Loanda. We 

 were not molested; but some of the enemy tried to lead us 

 toward the Bashukulompo, who are considered to be the 

 fiercest race in this quarter. As we knew our direction to 

 the confluence of the Kafue and Zambesi, we declined their 

 guidance, and the civil head-man of the evening before 

 then came along with us. Crowds of natives hovered 

 round us in the forest ; but he ran forward and explained, 

 and we were not molested. That night we slept by a little 

 village under a low range of hills, which are called Chiza- 

 mena. The country here is more woody than on the high 

 lands we had left; but the trees are not in general large. 



When we had passed the outskirting villages which alone 

 consider themselves in a state of war with the Makololo, 

 we found the Batoka, or Batonga, as they here call them- 

 selves, quite friendly. Great numbers of them came from 

 all the surrounding villages with presents of maize and 

 masuka, and expressed great joy at the first appearance of 

 a white man and harbinger of peace. The women clothe 

 themselves better than the Balonda, but the men go inpuris 

 naturalibus. They walk about without the smallest sense 

 of shame. They have even lost the tradition of the "fig- 

 leaf." I asked a fine, large-bodied old man if he did not 

 think it would be better to adopt a little covering. He 

 looked with a pitying leer, and laughed with surprise at my 

 thinking him at all indecent : he evidently considered him- 

 self above such weak superstition. I told them that, on 

 my return, I should have my family with me, and no one 

 must come near us in that state. "What shall we put on ? 

 we have no clothing." It was considered a good joke 

 when I told them that, if they had nothing else, they must 

 put on a bunch of grass. 



