28 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS. [Chap. I. 



marshes, also abounding in fish, an uninhabited space next 

 succeeds, and then we have the Matambwe country, which 

 extends up to Ngomano. The Matambwe seem to be a 

 branch of the Makonde, and a very large one : their country 

 extends a long way south, and is well stocked with elephants 

 and gum-copal trees. 



They speak a language slightly different from that of 

 the Makonde, but they understand them. The Matambwe 

 women are, accordiug to Ali, very dark, but very comely, 

 though they do wear the lip-ring. They carry their ivory, 

 gum-copal, and slaves to Ibo or Wibo. 



29th April. — We spend Sunday, the 29th, on the banks of 

 the Eovuma, at a village called Nackuchu, nearly opposite 

 Konayumba, the first of the Matambwe, whose chief is called 

 Kimbembe. Ali draws a very dark picture of the Makonde. 

 He says they know nothing of a Deity, they pray to their 

 mothers when in distress or dying ; know nothing of a 

 future state, nor have they any religion except a belief in 

 medicine; and every headsman is a doctor. No Arab has 

 ever tried to convert them, but occasionally a slave taken to 

 the coast has been circumcised in order to be clean ; some 

 of them pray, and say they know not the ordeal or muavi. 

 The Nassick boys failed me when I tried to communicate 

 some knowledge through them. They say they do not 

 understand the Makonde language, though some told me that 

 they came from Ndonde's, which is the head-quarters of the 

 Makonde. Ali says that the Makonde blame witches for 

 disease and death ; when one of a village dies, the whole 

 population departs, saying " that is a bad spot." They are 

 said to have been notorious for fines, but an awe has come 

 over them, and no complaints have been made, though our 

 animals in passing the gardens have broken a good deal of 

 corn. Ali says they fear the English. This is an answer 

 to my prayer for influence on the minds of the heathen. I 



