1866.] KIMSUSA SOLVES A DIFFICULTY. 121 



•cowardice; yet lie came to give me advice. On asking 

 what he knew (as he could not speak the language), he 

 replied that he heard the above two words, and that Chuma 

 could not translate them, but he had caught them, and came 

 to warn me. 



The chief asked me to stay over to-day, and he would go 

 with his wives to-morrow ; I was his friend, and he would 

 not see me in difficulties without doing his utmost. He 

 says that there is no danger of our not finding people for 

 carrying loads. It is probable that Khambuiri's people 

 went as marauders, and were beaten off in consequence. 



6th October. — We marched about seven miles to the north 

 to a village opposite the pass Tapiri, and on a rivulet, 

 Godedza. It was very hot. Kimsusa behaves like a king : 

 his strapping wives came to carry loads, and shame his 

 people. Many of the young men turned out and took the 

 loads, but it was evident that they feared retaliation if they 

 ventured up the pass. One Avife carried beer, another meal ; 

 and as soon as we arrived, cooking commenced: porridge 

 .and roasted goat's flesh made a decent meal. A preparation 

 of meal called " Toku " is very refreshing and brings out 

 all the sugary matter in the grain : he gave me some in 

 the way, and, seeing I liked it, a calabash full was prepared 

 for me in the evening. Kimsusa delights in showing me to 

 his people as his friend. If I could have used his pombe, 

 or beer, it would have put some fat on my bones, but it 

 requires a strong digestion ; many of the chiefs and their 

 wives live on it almost entirely. A little flesh is necessary 

 to relieve the acidity it causes ; and they keep all flesh 

 very carefully, no matter how high it may become : drying- 

 it on a stage over a fire prevents entire putridity. 



1th October. — I heard hooping-cough* in the village. 



* This complaint lias not been reported as an African disease before ; it 

 probably clings to the higher levels. — Ed. 



