360 A VILLAGE BURNT. Chap. XVIII. 



tlie country from being depopulated, to visit the Ajawa Chief, 

 and to try and persuade him to give up his slaving and kid- 

 napping courses, and turn the energies of his people to peace- 

 ful pursuits. 



On the morning of the 22nd we were informed that the 

 Ajawa were near, and were burning a village a few miles off. 

 Leaving the rescued slaves, we moved off to seek an interview 

 with these scourges of the country. On our way we met 

 crowds of Manganja fleeing from the war in front. These poor 

 fugitives from the slave hunt had, as usual, to leave all the 

 food they possessed, except the little they could carry on their 

 heads. We passed field after field of Indian corn or beans, 

 standing ripe for harvesting, but the owners were away. The 

 villages were all deserted: one where we breakfasted two 

 years before, and saw a number of men peacefully weaving 

 cloth, and, among ourselves, called it the "Paisley of the 

 hills," Avas burnt; the stores of corn were poured out in cart- 

 loads, and scattered all over the plain, and all along the paths, 

 neither conquerors nor conquered having been able to convey 

 it away. About two o'clock we saw the smoke of burning 

 villages, and heard triumphant shouts, mingled with the 

 wail of the Manganja women, lamenting over their slain. 

 The Bishop then engaged us in fervent prayer ; and, on rising 

 from our knees, we saw a long line of Ajawa warriors, with 

 their captives, coming round the hill-side. The first of the 

 returning conquerors were entering their own village below, 

 and we heard women welcoming them back with "lilliloo- 

 ings." The Ajawa headman left the path on seeing us, and 

 stood on an anthill to obtain a complete view of our party. 

 We called out that we had come to have an interview with 

 them, but some of the Manganja who followed us shouted 

 " Our Chibisa is come :" Chibisa being well known as a great 

 conjurer and general. The Ajawa ran off yelling and scream- 



