SUSPICIOUS CONDUCT. 247 



any balls, to hand over all the hunting to my men, who had no 

 more love for the sport than myself, as they never engaged in 

 it except when forced by hunger." 



Though the explanation of Livingstone seemed to be received 

 as true, it did not inspire full confidence, as could be clearly 

 seen in the absence of Mburuma himself, and the care which his 

 people were at to keep always in large bodies and thoroughly 

 armed. 



The greatest anxiety which Livingstone had was to pass these 

 people so quietly and peaceably that they would welcome him 

 should he return, as he expected to do. These people of Mbu- 

 ruma were, however, manifestly so treacherous that the greatest 

 caution was needed to avoid a collision with them ; and Dr. 

 Livingstone found that the experience he had gained was of 

 considerable value. They were clearly disposed to improve the 

 slightest chance to plunder or destroy the whole party. The 

 trying character of the situation may be seen in the account 

 which Dr. Livingstone himself gives ; says he : 



" Mburuma sent two men as guides to the Loangwa. These 

 men tried to bring us to a stand, at a distance of about six miles 

 from the village, by the notice, ' Mburuma says you are to sleep 

 under that tree.' On declining to do this, we were told that we 

 must wait at a certain village for a supply of corn. As none 

 appeared in an hour, I proceeded on the march. It is not quite 

 certain that their intentions were hostile, but this seemed to dis- 

 arrange their plans, and one of them was soon observed running 

 back to Mburuma. They had first of all tried to separate our 

 party by volunteering the loan of a canoe to convey Sekwebu 

 and me, together with our luggage, by way of the river, and, as 

 it was pressed upon us, I thought that this was their design. 

 The next attempt was to detain us in the pass; but, betraying 

 no suspicion, we civilly declined to place ourselves in their power 

 in an unfavorable position. We afterward heard that a party 

 of Babisa traders, who came from the northeast, bringing Eng- 

 lish goods from Mozambique, had been plundered by this same 

 people." 



Although the party reached the confluence of the Loangwa 

 without greater trouble than the manifestly wicked designs of 

 Mburuma's people, Livingstone felt by no means confident that 



