SEKELENKE'S PKESENT. 291 



who had been in the habit of visiting these parts, was believed 

 by the Balonda to have acted as a guide to the marauders under 

 Lerimo, whose captives we were now returning. They very nat- 

 urally suspected this, from the facility with which their villages 

 had been found, and, as they had since removed them to some 

 distance from the river, they were unwilling to lead us to their 

 places of concealment. We were in bad repute, but, having a 

 captive boy and girl to show in evidence of Sekeletu and our- 

 selves not being partakers in the guilt of inferior men, I could 

 freely express my desire that all should live in peace. They 

 evidently felt that I ought to have taught the Makololo first, 

 before coming to them, for they remarked that what I advanced 

 was very good, but guilt lay at the door of the Makololo for 

 disturbing the previously existing peace. They then went away 

 to report us to Manenko. 



When the strangers visited us again in the evening, they were 

 accompanied by a number of the people of an Ambonda chief 

 named Sekelenke. The Ambonda live far to the N.W. ; their 

 language, the Bonda, is the common dialect in Angola. Seke- 

 lenke had fled, and was now living with his village as a vassal 

 of Masiko. As notices of such men will perhaps convey the 

 best idea of the state of the inhabitants to the reader, I shall 

 hereafter allude to the conduct of Sekelenke, whom I at present 

 only introduce. Sekelenke had gone with his villagers to hunt 

 elephants on the right bank of the Leeba, and was now on his 

 way back to Masiko. He sent me a dish of boiled zebra's flesh, 

 and a request that I should lend him a canoe to ferry his wives 

 and family across the river to the bank on which we were en- 

 camped. Many of Sekelenke's people came to salute the first 

 white man they ever had an opportunity of seeing ; but Sekelenke 

 himself did not come near. We heard he was offended witli some 

 of his people for letting me know he was among the company. 

 He said that I should be displeased with him for not coming and 

 making some present. This was the only instance in which I 

 was shunned in this quarter. 



As it would have been impolitic to pass Manenko, or any chief, 

 without at least showing so much respect as to call and explain 

 the objects of our passing through the country, we waited two 

 entire days for the return of the messengers to Manenko ; and as 



