330 FOUNTAINS— VILLAGE OF KABINJE. Chap. XVIII. 



equally beautiful, and with a stream also in its centre. It may 

 seem mere trifling to note such an unimportant thing as the 

 occurrence of a valley, there being so many in every country 

 under the sun ; but as these were branches of that in which the 

 Kasai or Loke flows, and both that river and its feeders derive 

 their water in a singular manner from the valley sides, I may be 

 excused for calling particular attention to the more furrowed 

 nature of the country. 



At different points on the slopes of these valleys which we 

 now for the first time entered, there are oozing fountains, sur- 

 rounded by clumps of the same evergreen, straight, large-leaved 

 trees we have noticed along the streams. These spots are gene- 

 rally covered with a mat of grassy vegetation, and possess more 

 the character of bogs than of fountains. They slowly discharge 

 into the stream below, and are so numerous along both banks 

 as to give a peculiar character to the landscajoe. These groups 

 of sylvan vegetation are generally of a rounded form, and the 

 trunks of the trees are tall and straight, while those on the level 

 plains above are low and scraggy in their growth. There can 

 be little doubt but that the water, which stands for months on 

 the plains, soaks in, and finds its way into the rivers and rivulets 

 by percolating through the soil, and out by these oozing bogs ; 

 and the difference between the growth of the trees, though they 

 be of different species, may be a proof that the stuntedness of 

 those on the plains, is owing to being in the course of each year 

 more subjected to drought than moisture. 



Reaching the village of Kabinje, in the evening he sent us a 

 present of tobacco, Mutokuane or "bang" (Cannabis sativa), and 

 maize, by the man who went forward to announce our arrival, 

 and a message expressing satisfaction at the prospect of having 

 trade with the coast. The westing we were making brought us 

 among people who are frequently visited by the Mambari, as 

 slave-dealers. This trade causes bloodshed ; for when a poor 

 family is selected as the victims, it is necessary to get rid of the 

 older members of it, because they are supposed to be able to give 

 annoyance to the chief afterwards by means of enchantments. 

 The belief in the power of charms for good or evil produces 

 not only honesty, but a great amount of gentle dealing. The 

 powerful are often restrained in then despotism, from a fear 



