200 DEUNKEN FEEEY-MEK Chap. IX. 



ing, so we went on our way ; but in a few moments we saw 

 the rifle-loving Chief approaching with some armed men. 

 Before meeting us, he left the path and drew up his " follow- 

 ing" under a tree, expecting us to halt, and give him a 

 chance of bothering us again ; but, having already had 

 enough of that, we held right on : he seemed dumb- 

 foundered, and could hardly believe his own eyes. For a few 

 seconds he was speechless, but at last recovered so far as to 

 be able to say, " You are passing Pangola. Do not you see 

 Pangola?" Mbia was just going by at the time with the 

 donkey, and, proud of every opportunity of airing his small 

 stock of English, shouted in reply, " All right ! then get 

 on." " Click, click, click." This fellow, Pangola, would 

 have annoyed and harassed a trader until his unrea- 

 sonable demands were complied with. 



On the 26th June we breakfasted at Zumbo, on the left bank 

 of the Loangwa, near the ruins of some ancient Portuguese 

 house?. The Loangwa was too deep to be forded, and there were 

 no canoes on our side. Seeing two small ones on the opposite 

 shore, near a few recently-erected huts of two half-castes from 

 Tette, we halted for the ferry-men to come over. From their 

 movements it was evident that they were in a state of 

 rollicking drunkenness. Having a waterproof cloak, which 

 could be inflated into a tiny boat, we sent Mantlanyane across 

 in it. Three half-intoxicated slaves then brought us the shaky 

 canoes, which we lashed together and manned with our own 

 canoe-men. Five men were all that we could carry over at 

 a time ; and after four trips had been made the slaves 

 began to clamour for drink ; not receiving any, as we had 

 none to give, they grew more insolent, and declared 

 that not another man should cross that day. Sininyane was 

 remonstrating with them, when a loaded musket was pre- 



