Chap. XV. SEKELENKE' S PEESENT. 269 



who had been in the habit of visiting these parts, was believed 

 by the Balonda to have acted as a guide to the marauders under 

 Lerinio, whose captives we were now returning. They very 

 naturally suspected this, from the facility with which their vil- 

 lages had been found, and, as they had since removed them to 

 some distance from the river, they were unwilling to lead us to 

 their places of concealment. We were in bad repute, but, having 

 a captive boy and girl to show in evidence of Sekeletu and our- 

 selves not being partakers in the guilt of inferior men, I could 

 freely express my desire that all should live in peace. They 

 evidently felt that I ought to have taught the Makololo first, 

 before coming to them, for they remarked that what I advanced 

 was very good, but guilt lay at the door of the Makololo for 

 disturbing the previously existing peace. They then went away 

 to report us to Manenko. 



When the strangers visited us again in the evening, they 

 were accompanied by a number of the people of an Ambonda 

 chief named Sekelenke. The Ambonda live far to the N.W. ; 

 their language, the Bonda, is the common dialect in Angola. 

 Sekelenke had fled, and was now living with his village as a 

 vassal of Masiko. As notices of such men will perhaps convey 

 the best idea of the state of the inhabitants to the reader, I 

 shall hereafter allude to the conduct of Sekelenke, whom I at 

 present only introduce. Sekelenke had gone with his villagers 

 to hunt elephants on the right bank of the Leeba, and was now 

 on his way back to Masiko. He sent me a dish of boiled zebra's 

 flesh, and a request that I should lend him a canoe to ferry his 

 wives and family across the river to the bank on winch we were 

 encamped. Many of Sekelenke's people came to salute the first 

 white man they ever had an opportunity of seeing ; but Seke- 

 lenke himself did not come near. We heard he was offended 

 with some of his people for letting me know he was among the 

 company. He said that I should be displeased with him for not 

 coming and making some present. This was the only instance 

 in which I was shunned in this quarter. 



As it would have been impolitic to pass Manenko, or any 

 chief, without at least showing so much respect as to call and 

 explain the objects of our passing through the country, we 

 waited two entire days for the return of the messengers to 



