Chap. XV. MESSAGE TO MASIKO. 263 



CHAPTER XV. 



Message to Masiko, the Barotse cLief, regarding the captives — Navigation of 

 the Leeambye — Capabilities of this district — The Leeba — Flowers and 

 bees — Buffalo- hunt — Field for a botanist — Young alligators ; their savage 

 nature — Suspicion of the Balonda — Sekele'nke's present — A man and 

 his two wives — Hunters — Message from Manenko, a female chief — Mam- 

 bari traders — A dream — Sheakondo and" his people — Teeth-filing — 

 Desire for butter — Interview with Nyamoana, another female chief — 

 Court etiquette — Hair versus wool — Increase of superstition — Arrival 

 of Manenko : her appearance, and husband — Mode of salutation — 

 Anklets — Embassy, with a present from Masiko — Boast beef — Manioc 



— Magic-lantern — Manenko an accomplished scold : compels us to wait 



— Unsuccessful zebra-hunt. 



On the 27th December we were at the confluence of the Leeba 

 and Leeambye (lat. 14° 10' 52" S., long. 23° 35' 40" E.). Ma- 

 siko, the Barotse chief, for whom we had some captives, lived 

 nearly due east of this point. They were two little boys, a little 

 girl, a young man, and two middle-aged women. One of these 

 was a member of a Babimpe tribe, who knock out both upper 

 and lower front teeth as a distinction. As we had been informed 

 by the captives on the previous Sunday, that Masiko was in the 

 habit of seizing all orphans, and those who have no powerful 

 friend in the tribe whose protection they can claim, and selling 

 them for clothing to the Mambari, we thought the objection of 

 the women to go first to his town before seeing their friends, 

 quite reasonable, and resolved to send a party of our own people 

 to see them safely among their relatives. I told the captive 

 young man to inform Masiko that he was very unlike his father 

 Santuru, who had refused to sell his people to Mambari. He 

 will probably be afraid to deliver such a message himself, but it 

 is meant for his people, and they will circulate it pretty widely, 

 and Masiko may yet feel a little pressure from without. We 

 sent Mosantu, a Batoka man, and his companions, with the 

 captives. The Barotse whom we had, were unwilliug to go to 

 Masiko, since they owe him allegiance as the son of Santuru, 

 and while they continue with the Makololo are considered rebels. 



