Chap. XIX. NATIVE GRAVES. 381 



the various implements which the buried dead had used 

 in their different employments during life ; but they were 

 all broken as if to be employed no more. A piece of 

 fishing-net and a broken paddle told that a fisherman 

 slept beneath that sod. The graves of the women had the 

 wooden mortar, and the heavy pestle used in pounding 

 the com, and the basket in which the meal is sifted, while 

 all had numerous broken calabashes and pots arranged 

 around them. The idea that the future life is like the pre- 

 sent does not appear to prevail ; yet a banana-tree had been 

 carefully planted at the head of several of the graves, and, 

 if not merely for ornament, the fruit might be considered an 

 offering to those who still possess human tastes. The people 

 of the neighbouring villages were friendly and obliging, and 

 willingly brought us food for sale. 



Pursuing our exploration, we found that the northern 

 part of the lake was the abode of lawlessness and blood- 

 shed. The Mazite or Mazitu live on the highlands, and 

 make sudden swoops on the villages of the plains. They 

 are Zulus who came originally from the south, inland of 

 Sofalla and Inhambane ; and are of the same family as those 

 who levy annual tribute from the Portuguese on the Zambesi. 

 All the villages north of Mankambira's (lat. 11° 44' south) 

 had been recently destroyed by these terrible marauders, 

 but they were foiled in their attacks upon that' Chief and 

 Marenga. The thickets and stockades round their villages 

 enabled the bowmen to pick off the Mazitu in security, 

 while they were afraid to venture near any place where 

 they could not use their shields. Beyond Mankambira's we 

 saw burned villages, and the putrid bodies of many who had 

 fallen by Mazitu spears only a few days before. Our land 

 party were afraid to go further, and dreaded meeting the 

 inflicters of the terrible vengeance, of which they saw 



