1867.] A BAD SPORTSMAN. THE EATEL. 239 



would have been better to part with more at a lower price 

 than run off and leave all to be eaten by the slaves. 



oOth October. — Two ugly images were found in huts built 

 for them : they represent in a poor way the people of the 

 country, and are used in rain-making and curing the sick 

 ceremonies ; this is the nearest approach to idol worship 

 I have seen in the country.* 



31st October. — We marched over a long line of hills on 

 our west, and in five and a half hours came to some vil- 

 lages where the people sold us food willingly, and behaved 

 altogether in a friendly way. We were met by a herd of 

 buffaloes, but Syde seized my gun from the boy who carried 

 it, and when the animals came close past me I was power- 

 less, and not at all pleased with the want of good sense 

 shown by my usually polite Arab friend. 



Note. — The Choma is said by Mohamad bin Saleh to go 

 into Tanganyika (? ?). It goes to Kalongosi. 



1st November, 1867. — We came along between ranges of 

 hills considerably higher than those we have passed in Itawa 

 or JSTsama's country, and thickly covered with trees, some in 

 full foliage, and some putting forth fresh red leaves; the 

 hills are about 700 or 800 feet above the valleys. This is 

 not a district of running rills : we crossed three sluggish 

 streamlets knee deep. Buffaloes are very numerous. 



The Katel covers the buffalo droppings with earth in 

 order to secure the scavenger beetles which bury themselves 

 therein, thus he prevents them from rolling a portion away 

 as usual. 



We built our sheds on a hillside. Our course was west 

 and 6£ hours. 



2nd November. — Still in the same direction, and in an 

 open valley remarkable for the numbers of a small euphor- 



* It is on the West Coast alone that idols are really worshipped in 

 Africa. — Ed. 



