PEACE-MAKING. 545 



by the Arabs. When we had gone sixty miles we heard that 

 the head-quarters of the Arabs were twenty-two miles farther. 

 They had found ivory very cheap, and pushed on to the west, 

 till attacked by a chief named Nsama, whom they beat in his 

 own stockade. They were now at a loss which way to turn. 

 On reaching Chitimba's village (latitude 8° 57' 55" south ; 

 longitude 30° 20' east), I found them about six hundred in 

 all ; and, on presenting a letter I had from the Sultan of Zan- 

 zibar, was immediately supplied with provisions, beads, and 

 cloth. They approved of my plan of passing to the south of 

 Nsama's country, but advised waiting till the effects of punish- 

 ment, which the Baulungu had resolved to inflict on Nsama 

 for breach of public law, were known. It had always been 

 understood that whoever brought goods into the country was 

 to be protected ; and two hours after my arrival at Chitimba's, 

 the son of Kasonso, our guide, marched in with his contingent. 

 It was anticipated that Nsama might flee ; if to the north, he 

 would leave me a free passage through his country ; if to the 

 south, I might be saved from walking into his hands. But it 

 turned out that Nsama was anxious for peace. He had sent 

 two men with elephants' tusks to begin a negotiation ; but 

 treachery was suspected, and they were shot down. Another 

 effort was made with ten goats, and repulsed. This was much 

 to the regret of the head Arabs. It was fortunate for me that 

 the Arab goods were not all sold, for Lake Moero lay in Nsama's 

 country, and without peace no ivory could be bought, nor could 

 I reach the lake. The peace-making between the people and 

 Arabs was, however, a tedious process, occupying three and a 

 half months — drinking each other's blood. This, as I saw it 

 west of this in 1854, is not more horrible than the thirtieth 

 dilution of deadly night-shade or strychnine is in homoeopathy. 

 I thought that had I been an Arab I could easily swallow 

 that, but not the next means of cementing the peace — marrying 

 a black wife. Nsama's daughter was the bride, and she turned 

 out very pretty. She came riding pickapack on a man's shoul- 

 ders : this is the most dignified conveyance that chiefs and their 

 families can command. She had ten maids with her, each 

 carrying a basket of provisions, and all having the same beau- 

 tiful features as herself. She was taken by the principal Arab, 

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