QUENDENDE'S POLITENESS. 339 



Katema, by purchasing cattle and receiving in a kind manner all 

 the fugitives who came to him, had secured the birthright to him- 

 self, so far as influence in the country is concerned. Soana's first 

 address to us did not savor much of African wisdom. 



Friday, V)th. On leaving Mozinkwa's hospitable mansion we 

 crossed another stream, about forty yards wide, in canoes. While 

 this tedious process was going on, I was informed that it is called 

 the Mona-Kalueje, or brother of Kalueje, as it flows into that riv- 

 er ; that both the Kalueje and Livoa flow into the Leeba ; and 

 that the Chifumadze, swollen by the Lotembwa, is a feeder of that 

 river also, below the point where we lately crossed it. It may be 

 remarked here that these rivers were now in flood, and that the 

 water was all perfectly clear. The vegetation on the banks is so 

 thickly planted that the surface of the earth is not abraded by the 

 torrents. The grass is laid flat, and forms a protection to the 

 banks, which are generally a stiff black loam. The fact of ca- 

 noes being upon them shows that, though not large, they are not 

 like the southern rivulets, which dry up during most of the year, 

 and render canoes unnecessary. 



As we were crossing the river we were joined by a messenger 

 from Katema, called Shakatwala. This person was a sort of stew- 

 ard or factotum to his chief. Every chief has one attached to 

 his person, and, though generally poor, they are invariably men 

 of great shrewdness and ability. They act the part of mes- 

 sengers on all important occasions, and possess considerable au- 

 thority in the chief's household. Shakatwala informed us that 

 Katema had not received precise information about us, but if we 

 were peaceably disposed, as he loved strangers, we were to come 

 to his town. We proceeded forthwith, but were turned aside, by 

 the strategy of our friend Intemese", to the village of Quendende, 

 the father-in-law of Katema. This fine old man was so very 

 polite that we did not regret being obliged to spend Sunday at 

 his village. He expressed his pleasure at having a share in the 

 honor of a visit as well as Katema, though it seemed to me 

 that the conferring that pleasure required something like a pretty 

 good stock of impudence, in leading twenty-seven men through 

 the country without the means of purchasing food. My men did 

 a little business for themselves in the begging line ; they gen- 

 erally commenced every interview with new villagers by saying 



