292 EECEPTION BY SH1NTE. Chap. XVI. 



we did not, they turned round towards Sbinte, and saluted him ; 

 then retired. When all had come, and were seated, then began 

 the curious capering usually seen in pichos. A man starts up, 

 and imitates the most approved attitudes observed in actual 

 fight, — as if throwing one javelin, receiving another on the 

 shield, springing to one side to avoid a third, running backwards 

 or forwards, leaping, &c. This over, Sambanza, and the spokes- 

 man of JSTyamoana, stalked backwards and forwards in front of 

 Shinte, and gave forth, in a loud voice, all they had been able 

 to learn, either from myself or people, of my past history and 

 connection with the Makololo ; the return of the captives ; the 

 wish to open the country to trade ; the Bible as a word from 

 heaven ; the white man's desire for the tribes to live in peace : 

 he ought to have taught the Makololo that first, for the Balonda 

 never attacked them, yet they had assailed the Balonda : per- 

 haps he is fibbing, perhaps not ; they rather thought he was ; 

 but as the Balonda had good hearts, and Shinte had never done 

 harm to any one, he had better receive the white man well, and 

 send him on his way. Sambanza was gaily attired, and, besides 

 a profusion of beads, had a cloth so long that a boy carried it 

 after him as a train. 



Behind Shinte sat about a hundred women, clothed in their 

 best, which happened to be a profusion of red baize. The chief 

 wife of Shinte, one of the Matebele or Zulus, sat in front with a 

 curious red cap on her head. During the intervals between the 

 speeches, these ladies burst forth hi to a sort of plaintive ditty ; 

 but it was impossible for any of us to catch whether it was in 

 praise of the speaker, of Shinte, or of themselves. This was the 

 first time I had ever seen females present in a public assembly. 

 In the south the women are not permitted to enter the kotla ; 

 and even when invited to come to a religious service there, would 

 not enter until ordered to do so by the chief; but here they 

 expressed approbation by clapping their hands, and laughing 

 to different speakers ; and Shinte frequently turned round and 

 spoke to them. 



A party of musicians, consisting of three drummers and four 

 performers on the piano, went round the kotla several times, 

 regaling us with their music. The drums are neatly carved 

 from the trunk of a tree, and have a small hole in the side 



