328 MODE OF SALUTATION. Chap. XVI. 



frightened at the strange sounds they made, and looked upon 

 them as so many witchcraft agencies at work to bring all 

 manner of evils upon himself and his people. Sequasha, it 

 was decided, had been guilty of a milando or crime, and he 

 had to pay a heavy fine of cloth and beads for his exhibition. 

 He alluded to our having heard that he had killed Mpangwe, 

 and he denied having actually done so ; but in his absence his 

 name had got mixed up in the affair, in consequence of his 

 slaves, while drinking beer one night with Namakusuru, the 

 man who succeeded Mpangwe, saying that they would kill the 

 Chief for him. His partner had not thought of this when we 

 saw him on the way up, for he tried to excuse the murder, 

 by saying that now they had put the right man into the 

 Chieftainship. 



From Tombanyama's onwards the Zambesi is full of islands, 

 and many buffaloes had been attracted by the fresh young 

 grass and reeds. One was shot on the forenoon of the 27th. 

 Distant thunder was heard during the night, and, as usually 

 happens in this state of the atmosphere, the meat spoiled so 

 rapidly, that it was not fit to eat next morning. Hunger in 

 this case, and with no choice but want, made a bitter thing 

 sweet. The same rapid decomposition is also produced if 

 meat is hung on a papaw-tree for four or five hours : an hour 

 or two, however, makes it tender only. 



Three of Ma-mburuma's men brought us a present of meal 

 and fowls, as we rested on the 28th on an island near 

 Podebode. Their mode of salutation, intended to show good 

 manners and respectful etiquette, was to clap the thigh with 

 one hand while approaching with the present in the other; 

 and, on sitting down before us, to clap the hands together, then 

 to continue clapping on the thigh when they handed the 

 present to our men, and with both hands when they received 

 one in return, and also on their departure. This ceremonious 



