NATIVE FURNACES. 475 



the fugitives. The hard grass with stalks nearly as thick as 

 quills must have hurt their feet sorely, but what of that in com- 

 parison with dear life ! We meant to take our stand on the 

 hill and defend our property in case of the Mazitu coming near; 

 and we should, in the event of being successful, be a defence to 

 the fugitives who crowded up its rocky sides, but next morning 

 we heard that the enemy had gone to the south. Had we gone 

 forward, as we intended, to search for men to carry the meat, 

 We should have met the marauders, for the men of the second 

 party of villagers had remained behind guarding their village 

 till the Mazitu arrived, and they told us what a near escape I 

 had had from walking into their power." 



"Approaching Chimuna's town," he continues, "our path was 

 through a forest, and saw a number of ant-hills — each the size of 

 the end of a one-story cottage — covered with men on guard watch- 

 ing for the Mazitu. A long line of villagers were just arriving 

 from the south, and we could see the smoke arising from the 

 settlements ; none but men, the women and chief were on the 

 mountain called Pambe. These villagers gave us a good hut, 

 and sent at once to the mountain for their chief. He came in 

 the evening and begged us to remain, but we told him each chief 

 wished the same thing, and if we listened to all we would never 

 get on, and the rains were near; at length, however, we decided 

 to remain. The next day all the people came down from Pambe 

 and crowded to see the strangers." Curiosity must have been 

 the special allotment of this people in the distribution of original 

 graces. But they were industrious, and industry covers almost 

 as many sins as charity, although it is a homespun cloak. 



Their furnaces are rather bottle-shaped, and about seven 

 feet high by three broad. One old patriarch had heard of books 

 and umbrellas, but had never seen either. The oldest inhab- 

 itant had never travelled far from the spot in which he Avas 

 born ; yet he had a good knowledge of soils and agriculture, hut 

 building, basket making, pottery, and the manufacture of bark- 

 cloth and skins for clothing; also making of nets, trap and 

 cordage. Chimuna was hospitable, and quite grateful when a 

 blister was applied by Livingstone for his rheumatic pains; 

 asked the latter to fire a gun that the Mazitu might hear and 

 know that armed men were here. They all say they are afraid 



