Chap. V. APOLOGY OF THE CHIEF. 127 



village ; and, suspecting that mischief might ensue, we pro- 

 ceeded on our journey, to the great disgust of our men. 

 They were very angry with the natives for their want of 

 hospitality to strangers, and with us, because we would not 

 allow them to give " the things a thrashing." " This is what 

 comes of going witli white men," they growled out, " had 

 we been with our own Chief, we should have eaten their 

 goats to-night, and had some of themselves to carry the 

 bundles for us to-morrow." On our return, by a path which 

 left his village on our right, Zimika sent to apologise, saying 

 that " he was ill, and in another village at the time ; it was 

 not by his orders that we were sent away ; his men did not 

 know that we were a party wishing the land to dwell in 

 peace." 



We were not able, when hastening back to the men 

 left in the ship, to remain in the villages belonging to this 

 Chief; but the people came after us with things for sale, 

 and invited us to stop, and spend the night with them, 

 urging, " Are we to have it said that white people passed 

 through our country and we did not see them ? " We rested 

 by a rivulet to gratify these sight-seers. We appear to them 

 to be red rather than white ; and, though light colour is 

 admired among themselves, our clothing renders us uncouth 

 in aspect. Blue eyes appear savage, and a red beard 

 hideous. From the numbers of aged persons we saw on 

 the highlands, and the increase of mental and physical 

 vigour we experienced on our ascent from the lowlands, we 

 inferred that the climate was salubrious, and that our 

 countrymen might there enjoy good health, and also be of 

 signal benefit, by leading the multitude of industrious inha- 

 bitants to cultivate cotton, buaze, sugar, and other valuable 

 produce, to exchange for goods of European manufacture; 



