PRESENTATION TO KATEMA. 343 



was a man, and would be judged, in company with those he de- 

 stroyed, by a Lord who is no respecter of persons ? the embassa- 

 dor replied, " We do not go up to God, as you do ; we are put 

 into the eround." I could not ascertain that even those who have 

 such a distinct perception of the continued existence of departed 

 spirits had any notion of heaven ; they appear to imagine the 

 souls to be always near the place of sepulture. 



After crossing the River Lotembwa we traveled about eight 

 miles, and came to Katema's straggling town (lat. 11° 35' 49" S., 

 long. 22° 27 / E.). It is more a collection of villages than a town. 

 We were led out about half a mile from the houses, that we might 

 make for ourselves the best lodging we could of the trees and 

 grass, while Intemese was taken to Katema to undergo the usual 

 process of pumping as to our past conduct and professions. Ka- 

 tema soon afterward sent a handsome present of food. 



Next morning we had a formal presentation, and found Katema 

 seated on a sort of throne, with about three hundred men on the 

 ground around, and thirty women, who were said to be his wives, 

 close behind him. The main body of the people were seated in a 

 semicircle, at a distance of fifty yards. Each party had its own 

 head man stationed at a little distance in front, and, when beckoned 

 by the chief, came near him as councilors. Intemese gave our his- 

 tory, and Katema placed sixteen large baskets of meal before us, 

 half a dozen fowls, and a dozen eggs, and expressed regret that 

 we had slept hungry : he did not like any stranger to suffer want 

 in his town ; and added, " Go home, and cook and eat, and you 

 will then be in a fit state to speak to me at an audience I will 

 give you to-morrow." He was busily engaged in hearing the 

 statements of a large body of fine young men who had fled from 

 Kangenke, chief of Lobale, on account of his selling their rela- 

 tives to the native Portuguese who frequent his country. Kate- 

 ma is a tall man, about forty years of age, and his head was or- 

 namented with a helmet of beads and feathers. He had on a 

 snuff-brown coat, with a broad band of tinsel down the arms, and 

 carried in his hand a large tail made of the caudal extremities of 

 a number of gnus. This has charms attached to it, and he con- 

 tinued waving it in front of himself all the time we were there. 

 He seemed in good spirits, laughing heartily several times. This 

 is a good sign, for a man who shakes his sides with mirth is sel- 



