REMARKABLE SALUTATION. 513 



The chiefs in this section were found to be much respected by 

 their subjects, though they do not enforce their obedience as 

 positively perhaps as would accord with our ideas of govern- 

 ment. Livingstone witnessed a specimen of litigation in which 

 the parties argued their case before Moamba. His Majesty 

 occupied the post of honor with great gravity. Oue old man 

 argued his case an hour, and was heard with great patience. 

 After they had ended their speeches, the chief delivered his de- 

 cision in five minutes. There were features of this proceeding 

 which would doubtless disturb the solemnity of an American 

 tribunal. For instance, when our attorney would say, " may it 

 please your honor," the Babema orator turns his back on the 

 judge and stretching himself on the ground claps his hands 

 loudly. This was indeed a common mode of salutation, remind- 

 ing the reader perhaps of that noticed among the Batoka. The 

 Mobemba displayed much more independence than the more 

 southern tribes. They all go equipped with their bows and 

 arrows and are decidedly warlike. And the trophies from the 

 Mazitu which are frequently seen hanging about their villages 

 indicate very clearly that those bold depredators do not find such 

 easy work as in other regions. 



They are industrious too, and are well supplied with the com- 

 forts of African life. Much tobacco was noticed growing about 

 the villages, and great quantities of splendid copper wire is 

 manufactured. All sorts of animals abound in their country, 

 but they were exceedingly wild, as they are generally where 

 bows and arrows are in common use. Here too, besides this 

 effectual weapon, the hopo wages war on the game r and every- 

 thing is taught the fear of man. 



After parting with Moamba, Livingstone continued his north- 

 ward journey, and ascended the Losauswa ridge, which is prob- 

 ably the watershed between the streams flowing southward to 

 the Zambesi and those flowing north towards Tanganyika ; 

 and, without special incident, crossed a country watered by 

 various rivers and dotted with stockaded villages, where numerous 

 herds of goats were carefully attended by boys, and the usual 

 gardens and patches were to be seen everywhere, almost lost in 

 the prevailing forest. His health was sadly affected by the toil 

 and unrelished diet. On the 12th of March he reached the vil- 



