I860.] LIGHT IN DARKNESS. 20 



9th October. — The rite of circumcision is general among 

 all the Manyuenia ; it is performed on the young. If a 

 headman's son is to be operated on, it is tried on a slave 

 first ; certain times of the year are unpropitious, as during 

 a drought for instance ; but having by this experiment 

 ascertained the proper time, they go into the forest, beat 

 drums, and feast as elsewhere : contrary to all African 

 custom they are not ashamed to speak about the rite, even 

 before women. 



Two very fine young men came to visit me to-day. After 

 putting several preparatory inquiries as to where our country 

 lay, &c, they asked whether people died with us, and where 

 they went to after death. " Who kills them ?" " Have you 

 no charm (Buanga) against death?" It is not necessary 

 to answer such questions save in a land never visited by 

 strangers. Both had the " organs of intelligence " largely 

 developed. I told them that we prayed to the Great Father,. 

 " 3Iulungu," and He hears us all ; they thought this to be 

 natural. 



14ih October. — An elephant killed was of the small 

 variety, and only 5 feet 8 inches high at the withers. 

 The forefoot was in circumference 3 feet 9 inches, which 

 doubled gives 7 feet 6 inches ; this shows a deviation from 

 the usual rule " twice round the forefoot = the height of 

 the animal." Heart 1^ foot long, tusks 6 feet 8 inches 

 in length. 



loth October. — Fever better, and thankful. Very cold and 

 rainy. 



18th October. — Our Hassani returned from Moene Ki- 

 rumbo's ; then one of Dugumbe's party (also called Hassani) 

 seized ten goats and ten slaves before leaving, though great 

 kindness had been shown : this is genuine Suaheli or 

 Nigger-Moslem tactics — four of his people were killed in 

 revenge. 



