334 A GEAVE OFFENCE. Chap. XVIII. 



receiving messages from the great man, we were told that lie 

 wanted either a man, a tusk, beads, copper rings, or a shell, as 

 payment for leave to pass through his country. No one, we 

 were assured, was allowed that liberty, or even to behold him, 

 without something of the sort being presented. Having humbly 

 explained our circumstances, and that he could not expect to 

 " catch a humble cow by the horns," — a proverb similar to ours 

 that " you can't draw milk out of a stone " — we were told to go 

 home, and he would speak again to us next day. I could not 

 avoid a hearty laugh at the cool impudence of the savage, and 

 made the best of my way home in the still-pouring rain. My 

 men were rather nettled at tins want of hospitality, but, after 

 talking over the matter with one of Katende's servants, he pro- 

 posed that some small article should be given, and an attempt 

 made to please Katende. I turned out my shirts, and selected 

 the worst one as a sop for him, and invited Katende to come and 

 choose anything else I had, but added that, when I should reach 

 my own chief naked, and was asked what I had done with my 

 clothes, I should be obliged to confess that I had left them with 

 Katende. The shirt was despatched to him, and some of my 

 people went along with the servant ; they soon returned, saying 

 that the shirt had been accepted, and guides and food too would 

 be sent to us next day. The chief had, moreover, expressed a 

 hope to see me on my return. He is reported to be very cor- 

 pulent. The traders who have come here seem to have been 

 very timid, yielding to every demand made on the most frivolous 

 pretences. One of my men, seeing another much like an ac- 

 quaintance at home, addressed him by the name of the latter in 

 sport, telling him at the same time why he did so ; this was 

 pronounced to be a grave offence, and a large fine demanded ; 

 when the case came before me I could see no harm in what had 

 been done, and told my people not to answer the young fellow. 

 The latter felt himself disarmed, for it is chiefly in a brawl they 

 have power ; then words are spoken in anger, which rouse the 

 passions of the complainant's friends. In this case, after voci- 

 ferating some time, the would-be offended party came and said 

 to my man, that, if they exchanged some small gift, all would be 

 right, but, my man taking no notice of him, he went off rather 

 crestfallen. 



