SKIRMISH IN A FOREST. 4g3 



One of the opposite party coming too near, one of mine drove him 

 back with a battle-axe. The enemy protested their amicable in- 

 tentions, and my men asserted the fact of having the goods 

 knocked down as evidence of the contrary. Without waiting long, 

 I requested all to sit down, and Pitsane, placing his hand upon 

 the revolver, somewhat allayed their fears. I then said to the 

 chief, " If you have come with peaceable intentions, we have no 

 other ; go away home to your village." He replied, " I am afraid 

 lest you shoot me in the back." I rejoined, " If I wanted to kill 

 you, I could shoot you in the face as well." Mosantu called out 

 to me, " That's only a Makalaka trick; don't give him your back." 

 But I said, " Tell him to observe that I am not afraid of him ;" 

 and, turning, mounted my ox. There was not much danger in 

 the fire that was opened at first, there being so many trees. The 

 enemy probably expected that the sudden attack would make us 

 forsake our goods, and allow them to plunder with ease. The 

 villagers were no doubt pleased with being allowed to retire un- 

 scathed, and we were also glad to get away without having shed 

 a drop of blood, or having compromised ourselves for any future 

 visit. My men were delighted with their own bravery, and made 

 the woods ring with telling each other how "brilliant their con- 

 duct before the enemy" would have been, had hostilities not been 

 brought to a sudden close. 



I do not mention this little skirmish as a very frightful affair. 

 The negro character in these parts, and in Angola, is essentially 

 cowardly, except when influenced by success. A partial triumph 

 over any body of men would induce the whole country to rise in 

 arms, and this is the chief danger to be feared. These petty chiefs 

 have individually but little power, and with my men, now armed 

 with guns, I could have easily beaten them off singly ; but, being 

 of the same family, they would readily unite in vast numbers if 

 incited by prospects of successful plunder. They are by no means 

 equal to the Cape Caffres in any respect whatever. 



In the evening we came to Moena Kikanje, and found him a 

 sensible man. He is the last of the Chiboque chiefs in this di- 

 rection, and is in alliance with Matiamvo, whose territory com- 

 mences a short distance beyond. His village is placed on the 

 east bank of the Quilo, which is here twenty yards wide, and breast 

 deep. 



