624 OPINIONS OF THE GUIDES. 



watch, looking-glass, revolver, etc. They are a strong, muscular 

 race, and both men and women are seen cultivating the ground. 

 The soil contains so much comminuted talc and mica from the 

 adjacent hills that it seems as if mixed with spermaceti. They 

 generally eat their corn only after it has begun to sprout from 

 steeping it in water. The deformed lips of the women make them 

 look very ugly ; I never saw one smile. The people in this part 

 seem to understand readily what is spoken about God, for they 

 listen with great attention, and tell in return their own ideas of 

 departed spirits. The position of the village of Mburuma's mother 

 was one of great beauty, quite inclosed by high, steep hills ; and 

 the valleys are all occupied by gardens of native corn and maize, 

 which grow luxuriantly. We were obliged to hurry along, for 

 the oxen were bitten daily by the tsetse, which, as I have before 

 remarked, now inhabits extensive tracts which once supported 

 herds of cattle that were swept off by Mpakane and other 

 marauders, whose devastations were well known to Sekwebu, for 

 he himself had been an actor in the scenes. When he told me 

 of them he always lowered his voice, in order that the guides 

 might not hear that he had been one of their enemies. But that 

 we were looked upon with suspicion, on account of having come 

 in the footsteps of invaders, was evident from our guides remark- 

 ing to men in the gardens through which we passed, " They have 

 words of peace — all very fine ; but lies only, as the Bazunga are 

 great liars." They thought we did not understand them ; but 

 Sekwebu knew every word perfectly; and, without paying any 

 ostensible attention to these complimentary remarks, we always 

 took care to explain ever afterward that we were not Bazunga, 

 but Makoa (English). 



