Chap. V. "GOREE," OR SLAVE -STICK. 125 



the lake itself. We might have released these slaves, but 

 did not know what to do with them afterwards. On 

 meeting men, led in slave-sticks, the Doctor had to bear 



" Goree," or Slave-stick. 



the reproaches of the Makololo, who never slave, " Ay, you 

 call us bad, but are we yellow-hearted, like these fellows — 

 why won't you let us choke them?" To liberate and leave 

 them, would have done but little good, as the people of the 

 surrounding villages would soon have seized them,' and have 

 sold them again into slavery. The Manganja Chiefs sell their 

 own people, for we met Ajawa and slave-dealers in several 

 highland villages, who had certainly been encouraged to come 

 among them for slaves. The Chiefs always seemed ashamed 

 of the traffic, and tried to excuse themselves. " We do not sell 

 many, and only those who have committed crimes." As a rule 

 the regular trade is supplied by the low and criminal classes, and 

 hence the ugliness of slaves. Others are probably sold besides 

 criminals, as on the accusation of witchcraft. Friendless 

 orphans also sometimes disappear suddenly, and'no one in- 

 cpiires what has become of them. The temptation to sell their 

 people is peculiarly great, as there is but little ivory on the 

 hills, and often the Chief has nothing but human flesh, with 

 which to buy foreign goods. The Ajawa offer cloth, brass 

 rings, pottery, and sometimes handsome young women, and 

 agree to take the trouble of carrying off by night all those 

 Avhom the Chief may point out to them. They give four yards 

 of cotton cloth for a man, three for a woman, and two for a 



