146 PRIVATE TALKS WITH SHINTE. 



tribe, who saluted their chief and resumed their places. After 

 these, distinguished men did him reverence, rubbing their 

 breasts and arms with white powder. Then, suddenly, a host 

 of soldiers, bursting from concealment, rushed wildly toward 

 Livingstone and his men, brandishing their swords and shout- 

 ing like demons ; who, having tested the courage of their visitor 

 to their satisfaction, retired. 



The audience was now opened by the husband of Manenko, 

 who, in an elaborate speech, declared the history and purposes 

 of the white man, which, however, he considered only lies, and 

 grounded his appeal in his behalf entirely on the generosity of 

 the Balonda and Shinte's habitual kindness. After him the 

 great men all had their talks, interspersed by the songs of the 

 women and encouraged by their applause. 



During all this while the explorer sat quietly and surveyed 

 the novel scene, and at the close Shinte arose and retired with 

 conscious dignity, and the multitude dispersed to be lost again 

 in the ordinary affairs of life. 



After the public reception, which was really only a display 

 for his entertainment, certainly one in which the visitor was 

 only a spectator, Livingstone was invited frequently to confer 

 with Shinte in private, and received many expressions of his 

 regard and of his sympathy with the purposes of the expedition. 

 But one great blemish spoiled the otherwise pleasant character 

 of this chief — he was manifestly in secret sympathy with the 

 slave dealers. The Mambari are allowed to erect their slave- 

 pens right under his eye, and nightly sorrows of parents bereft 

 of their children under cover of the darkness find no redress at 

 his hands. Dr. Livingstone threw his influence against the 

 wicked trade, but it was only the voice of one man. Yes, it 

 was God's truth, and though scattered only as fine seed, may 

 ultimately spread its blessed protection over those miserable 

 homes, and become a wall of principle against which the covet- 

 ous importunities of cruel tradesmen in human souls shall beat 

 vainly, as against the breast of Christ. 



The Balonda are on their best behavior in this town, and 

 the inexorable laws of society were seen everywhere in the 

 punctilious observances of the people. Social grades existed in 

 most unquestionable authority. The inferior would not pre- 



