Chap. XXVIII. OPINIONS OF THE GUIDES. 583 



watch, looking-glass, revolver, &c. They are a strong, muscular 



race, and both men and women are seen cultivating the ground. 



The soil contains so much comminuted talc and inica from the 



adjacent hills, that it seems as if mixed with spermaceti. They 



generally eat their corn only after it has begun to sprout from 



steeping it in water. The deformed lips of the women make 



them look very ugly; I never saw one smile. The people in 



this part seem to understand readily what is spoken about God, 



for they listen with great attention, and tell in return then own 



ideas of departed spirits. The position of the village of 



Mburuma's mother was one of great beauty, quite enclosed by 



high, steep hills ; and the valleys are all occupied by gardens of 



native corn and maize, which grow luxuriantly. We were obliged 



to hurry along, for the oxen were bitten daily by the tsetse, 



which, as I have before remarked, now inhabits extensive tracts 



which once supported herds of cattle that were swept off by 



Mpakane and other marauders, whose devastations were well 



known to Sekwebu, for he himself had been an actor in the scenes. 



When he told me of them he always lowered Ins voice, in order 



that the guides might not hear that he had been one of their 



enemies. But that we were looked upon with suspicion, on 



account of having come in the footsteps of invaders, was evident 



from our guides remarking to men in the gardens through winch 



we passed, " They have words of peace — all very fine ; but lies 



only, as the Bazunga are great liars." They thought we did not 



understand them, but Sekwebu knew every word perfectly, and, 



without paying any ostensible attention to these complimentary 



remarks, we always took care to explain ever afterwards that Ave 



were not Bazunga, but Makoa (English). 



