1866.] NO HIOSPECT OF A CHRISTMAS DINNER. 1G3 



tired cm a march, but to-day we hurried on to Kavimba, 

 who successfully beat off the Mazitu. It is very hot, and 

 between three and four hours is a good day's march. On 

 sitting down to rest before entering the village we were 

 observed, and all the force of the village issued to kill us 

 as Mazitu, but when we stood up the mistake was readily 

 perceived, and the arrows were placed again in their quivers. 

 In the hut four Mazitu shields show that they did not get it 

 all their own way; they are miserable imitations of Zulu 

 shields, made of eland and water-buck's hides, and ill sewn. 



A very small return present was made by Kavimba, and 

 nothing could be bought except at exorbitant prices. We 

 remained all day on the 24th haggling and trying to get 

 some grain. He took a fancy to a shirt, and left it to his 

 wife to bargain for. She got the length of cursing and 

 swearing, and we bore it, but could get only a small price 

 for it. We resolved to hold our Christmas some other day, 

 and in a better place. The women seem ill-regulated here 

 — Kaviinba's brother had words with his spouse, and at the 

 end of every burst of vociferation on both sides called out, 

 " Bring the Muavi ! bring the Muavi !" or ordeal. 



Christmas-clay, 1866. — No one being willing to guide us 

 to Moerwa's, I hinted to Kavimba that should we see a 

 rhinoceros I would kill it. He came himself, and led us on 

 where he expected to find these animals, but we saw only 

 their footsteps. We lost our four goats somewhere — stolen or 

 strayed in the pathless forest, we do not know which, but 

 the loss I felt very keenly, for Avhatever kind of food we 

 had, a little milk made all right, and I felt strong and 

 well, but coarse food hard of digestion without it was very 

 trying. We spent the 26th in searching for them, but all 

 in vain. Kavimba had a boy carrying two huge elephant 

 spears, with these he attacks that large animal single-handed. 

 We parted from him, as I thought, good friends, but a man 

 who volunteered to act as guide saw him in the forest 



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