106 BARTER WITH THE NATIVES. Chap. V. 



white men to sit on ; and the headman brought a seguati, 

 or present, of a small goat and a basket of meal. The full 

 value in beads and cotton cloth was handed to him in return. 

 He measured the cloth, doubled it, and then measured that 

 again. The beads were scrutinized ; he had never seen beads 

 of that colour before, and should like to consult with his 

 comrades before accepting them, and this, after repeated 

 examinations and much anxious talk, he concluded to do. 

 Meal and peas were then brought for sale. A fathom of 

 blue cotton-cloth, a full dress for man or woman, was pro- 

 duced. Our Makololo headman, Sininyane, thinking a part 

 of it was enough for the meal, was proceeding to tear it, 

 when Chitimba remarked that it was a pity to cut such 

 a nice dress for his wife, he would rather bring more 

 meal. " All right," said Sininyane ; " but look, the cloth is 

 very wide, so see that the basket which carries the meal be 

 wide too, and add a cock to make the meal taste nicely." A 

 brisk trade srjrang up at once, each being eager to obtain as 

 fine things as his neighbour, — and all were in good humour. 

 Women and girls began to pound and grind meal, and men 

 and boys chased the screaming fowls over the village, until 

 they ran them down. In a few hours the market was 

 completely glutted with every sort of native food ; the prices, 

 however, rarely fell, as they could easily eat what was not 

 sold. 



We slept under the trees, the air being pleasant, and 

 no mosquitoes on the hills. According to our usual plan of 

 marching, by early dawn our camp was in motion. After a 

 cup of coffee, and a bit of biscuit we were on the way. 

 The air was deliciously cool, and the path a little easier than 

 that of yesterday. We passed a number of villages, oc- 

 cupying very picturesque spots among the hills, and in a few 



