470 A STRATAGEM. Chap. XXIII. 



observation of where the canoes were hidden among the reeds. 

 The ferrymen casually asked one of my Batoka if they had rivers 

 in his country, and he answered with truth, " No, we have none." 

 Kawawa's people then felt sure we could not cross. I thought of 

 swimming when they were gone ; but after it was dark, by the 

 unasked loan of one of the hidden canoes, we soon were snug in 

 our bivouac on the southern bank of the Kasai. I left some beads, 

 as payment for some meal, which had been presented by the 

 ferrymen ; and, the canoe having been left on their own side of 

 the river, Pitsane and his companions laughed uproariously at 

 the disgust our enemies would feel, and their perplexity as to 

 who had been our paddler across. They were quite sure that 

 Kawawa would imagine that we had been ferried over by his own 

 people, and would be divining to find out who had done the deed. 

 When ready to depart in the morning, Kawawa's people appeared 

 on the opposite heights, and could scarcely believe their eyes 

 when they saw us prepared to start away to the south. At last 

 one of them called out, " Ah ! ye are bad." To which Pitsane 

 and Iris companions retorted, " Ah ! ye are good ; and we thank 

 you for the loan of your canoe." We were careful to explain the 

 whole of the circumstances to Katema and the other chiefs, and 

 they all agreed that we were perfectly justifiable under the cir- 

 cumstances, and that Matiamvo would approve our conduct. 

 When anything that might bear an unfavourable construction 

 happens among themselves, they send explanations to each other. 

 The mere fact of doing so, prevents them from losing their cha- 

 racter, for there is public opinion even amongst them. 



