278 MANENKO A SCOLD. Chap. XV. 



fond of beef and butter, from having been accustomed to them 

 in their youth, before the Makololo deprived them of cattle. 

 They have abundance of game, but I am quite of their opinion, 

 that, after all, there is nought in the world equal to roast beef; 

 and that in their love for it the English show both good taste 

 and sound sense. The ox was intended for Masiko, but his men 

 were very anxious to get my sanction for slaughtering it on the 

 spot. I replied, that when it went out of my hands I had no 

 more to do with it. They, however, wished the responsibility of 

 slaughtering it to rest with me ; if I had said they might kill it, 

 not many ounces would have remained in the morning. I would 

 have given permission, but had nothing else to offer in return 

 for Masiko's generosity. 



We were now without any provisions except a small dole of 

 manioc-roots each evening from Nyamoana, winch, when eaten 

 raw, produce poisonous effects. A small loaf, made from nearly 

 the last morsel of maize-meal from Libonta, was my stock, and 

 our friends from Masiko were still more destitute ; yet we all 

 rejoiced so much at their arrival, that we resolved to spend a 

 day with them. The Barotse of our party, meeting with relatives 

 and friends among the Barotse of Masiko, had many old tales to 

 tell ; and, after pleasant hungry converse by day, we regaled 

 our Mends with the magic lantern by night, and, in order to 

 make the tiling of use to all, we removed our camp up to the 

 village of Nyamoana. This is a good means of arresting the 

 attention, and conveying important facts to the minds of these 

 people. 



When erecting our sheds at the village, Manenko fell upon 

 our friends from Masiko in a way that left no doubt on our 

 minds but that she is a most accomplished scold. Masiko had, 

 on a former occasion, sent to Samoana for a cloth, a common 

 way of keeping up intercourse, and, after receiving it, sent it 

 back, because it had the appearance of having had " witchcraft 

 medicine " on it ; this was a grave offence, and now Manenko 

 had a good excuse for venting her spleen, the ambassadors 

 having called at her village, and slept in one of the huts without 

 leave. If her family was to be suspected of dealing in evil 

 charms, why were Masiko's people not to be thought guilty of 

 leaving the same in her hut? She advanced and receded in 



