STRANGE MODE OF SALUTATION. 347 



The farther we advanced the more we found the country 

 ^warnling with inhabitants. Great numbers came to see 

 the white man, — a sight they had never beheld before. They 

 always brought presents of maize and masuka. Theii 

 mode of salutation is quite singular. They throw them- 

 selves on their backs on the ground, and, rolling from side 

 to side, slap the outside of their thighs as expressions of 

 thankfulness and welcome, uttering the words "Kina 

 bomba." This method of salutation was to me very dis- 

 agreeable, and I never could get reconciled to it. I called 

 out, " Stop, stop ! I don't want that ;" but they, imagining 

 I was dissatisfied, only tumbled about more furiously and 

 6lapped their thighs with greater vigor. The men being 

 totally unclothed, this performance imparted to my mind 

 a painful sense of their extreme degradation. My own 

 Batoka were much more degraded than the Barotse, and 

 more reckless. We had to keep a strict watch, so as not 

 to be involved by their thieving from the inhabitants, in 

 whose country and power we were. "We had also to watch 

 the use they made of their tongues, for some within hear- 

 ing of the villagers would say, " I broke all the pots of 

 that village," or "I killed a man there." Thoy were 

 eager to recount their soldier-deeds when they were in 

 company with the Makololo in former times as a conquer- 

 ing army. They were thus placing us in danger by their 

 remarks. I called them together, and spoke to them about 

 their folly, and gave them a pretty plain intimation that I 

 meant to insist upon as complete subordination as I had 

 secured in my former journey, as being necessary for the 

 safety of the party. Happily, it never was needful to 

 resort to any other measure for their obedience, as they all 

 believed that I would enforce it. 



December 6. — We passed the night near a series of villages. 

 Before we came to a stand under our tree, a man came 

 cunning to us with hands and arms firmly bound with 

 jords behind his back, entreating me to release him. 

 When I had dismounted, the head-man of the village 



