446 SKIRMISH IN A FOREST. Chap. XXII. 



chiefs. One of the opposite party coming too near, one of mine 

 drove him back with a battle-axe. The enemy protested their 

 amicable intentions, and my men asserted the fact of having the 

 goods knocked down as evidence of the contrary. Without waiting 

 long, I requested all to sit down, and Pitsane, placing his hand 

 upon the revolver, somewhat allayed their fears. I then said to 

 the chief, " If you have come with peaceable intentions, we have 

 no other ; go away home to your village." He replied, " I am 

 afraid lest you shoot me in the back." I rejoined, " If I wanted 

 to kill you, I could shoot you in the face as well." Mosantu 

 called out to me, " That's only a Makalaka trick ; don't give him 

 your back." But I said, "Tell him to observe that I am not 

 afraid of lihn ;" and, turning, mounted my ox. There was not 

 much danger in the fire that was opened at first, there being so 

 many trees. The enemy probably expected that the sudden 

 attack would make us forsake our goods, and allow them to 

 plunder with ease. The villagers were no doubt pleased with 

 being allowed to retire unscathed, and we were also glad to get 

 away without having shed a drop of blood, or having compro- 

 mised ourselves for any future visit. My men were delighted with 

 then* own bravery, and made the woods ring with telling each 

 other how " brilliant their conduct before the enemy " would 

 have been, had hostilities not been brought to a sudden close. 



I do not mention this little skirmish as a very frightful affair. 

 The negro character in these parts, and in Angola, is essentially 

 cowardly, except when influenced by success. A partial triumph 

 over any body of men would induce the whole country to rise in 

 arms, and this is the chief danger to be feared. These petty 

 chiefs have individually but little power, and with my men, now 

 armed with guns, I could have easily beaten them off singly ; but, 

 being of the same family, they would readily unite in vast 

 numbers, if incited by prospects of successful plunder. They are 

 by no means equal to the Cape Caffres in any respect whatever. 



In the evening we came to Moena Kikanje, and found him a 

 sensible man. He is the last of the Chiboque chiefs in tins 

 direction, and is in alliance with Matiamvo, whose territory com- 

 mences a short distance beyond. His village is placed on the 

 east bank of the Quilo, which is here twenty yards wide, and 

 breast deep. 



