Chap. IX. MPENDE. 195 



is now never shared by others ; disgusted, he passes into a state 

 of chronic war with all who enjoy life, and the sooner after his 

 expulsion that he fills the lion's or the wild-dog's maw, the 

 better for himself and for the peace of the country. Though 

 we are not disposed to be didactic, the idea of a crusty old 

 bachelor or of a cantankerous husband will rise up in our 

 minds; to this human buffalo, at whose approach wife and 

 children, or poor relations, hold their breath with awe, we 

 cannot extend one grain of pity ; because it is not infirmity 

 of temper this brute can plead, seeing that, when in the herd 

 with his equals, he is invariably polite, and only exercises his 

 tyranny when with those who cannot thrash him into decency. 

 We encamped on the 20 th of June at a spot, where Dr. 

 Livingstone, on his journey from the West to the East Coast, 

 was formerly menaced by a Chief named Mpende. No offence 

 had been committed against him, but he had firearms, and, with 

 the express object of showing his power, he threatened to attack 

 the strangers. Mpende's counsellors having, however, found 

 out that Dr. Livingstone belonged to a tribe of whom they 

 had heard that " they loved the black man and did not make 

 slaves," his conduct at once changed from enmity to kindness, 

 and, as the place was one well selected for defence, it was per- 

 haps quite as well for Mpende that he decided as he did. 

 Three of his counsellors now visited us, and we gave them 

 a handsome present for their Chief, who came himself next 

 morning and made us a present of a goat, a basket of boiled 

 maize, and another of vetches. A few miles above this, the 

 headman, Chilondo of Nyamasusa, apologized for not formerly 

 lending us canoes. " He was absent, and his children were to 

 blame for not telling him when the Doctor passed ; he did not 

 refuse the canoes." The sight of our men, now armed with 

 muskets, had a great effect. Without any bullying, firearms 



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