Chap. XXHT. MATIAMVO'S COUNTRY AND GOVERNMENT. 459 



permit any white person to visit them, as his principal supplies of 

 ivory are drawn from them. Thinking that we might descend tins 

 branch of the Zambesi to Masiko, and thence to the Barotse, I felt 

 a strong inclination to make the attempt. The goods, however, we 

 had brought with us to pay our way, had, by the long detention 

 from fever and weakness in both myself and men, dwindled to a 

 mere fragment ; and, being but slightly acquainted with the 

 Balonda dialect, I felt that I could neither use persuasion nor 

 presents to effect my object. From all I could hear of Matiamvo, 

 there was no chance of my being allowed to proceed through his 

 country to the southward. If I had gone merely to visit him, all 

 the goods would have been expended by the time I returned to 

 Cabango ; and we had not found mendicity so pleasant on our 

 way to the north, as to induce us to desire to return to it. 



The country of Matiamvo is said to be well peopled, but they 

 have little or no trade. They receive calico, salt, gunpowder, 

 coarse earthenware, and beads, and give in return ivory and 

 slaves. They possess no cattle, Matiamvo alone having a single 

 herd, which he keeps entirely for the sake of the flesh. The 

 present chief is said to be mild in his government, and will depose 

 an under-chief for unjust conduct. He occasionally sends the 

 distance of a hundred miles or more, to behead an offending 

 officer. But though I was informed by the Portuguese that he 

 possesses absolute power, his name had less influence over Ins 

 subjects with whom I came in contact, than that of Sekeletu has, 

 over his people living at a much greater distance from the capital. 



As we thought it best to strike away to the S.E. from Cabango 

 to our old friend Katema, I asked a guide from Muanzanza as 

 soon as the funeral proceedings were over. He agreed to furnish 

 one, and also accepted a smaller present from me than usual, 

 when it was represented to him by Pascoal and Faria that I was 

 not a trader. He seemed to regard these presents as his proper 

 dues ; and as a cargo of goods had come by Senhor Pascoal, he 

 entered the house for the purpose of receiving Ins share, when 

 Senhor Faria gravely presented him with the commonest earthen- 

 ware vessel, of which great numbers are brought for tins trade. 

 The chief received it with expressions of abundant gratitude, as 

 these vessels are highly valued because from their depth they can 

 hold so much food or beer. The association of ideas is some- 



