1871.] SIGNS OF DANGER. 145 



Bathata — fathers or ancients — and the name of each is 

 carefully preserved. Those here at Kittette were evidently 

 the names of chiefs, Molenda being the most ancient, 

 whilst Mbayo Yamba, Kamoanga, Kitambwe, Nongo, Au- 

 lumba, Yenge Yenge, Simba Mayafiga, Loembwe, are more 

 recently dead. They were careful to have the exact pro- 

 nunciation of the names. The old men told me that on 

 certain occasions they offer goat's flesh to them: men eat 

 it, and allow no young person or women to partake. The 

 flesh of the parrot is only eaten by very old men. They 

 say that if eaten by young men their children will have 

 the waddling gait of the bird. They say that originally 

 those who preceded Molenda came from Kongolakokwa, 

 which conveys no idea to my mind. It was interesting to 

 get even this little bit of history here. (Nkoiigolo = Deity ; 

 Nkofigolokwa as the Deity.) 



4th August. — Came through miles of villages all burned 

 because the people refused a certain Abdullah lodgings ! 

 The men had begun to re-thatch the huts, and kept out of 

 our way, but a goat was speared by some one in hiding, and 

 we knew danger was near. Abdullah admitted that he had 

 no other reason for burning them than the unwillingness 

 of the people to lodge him and his slaves without payment, 

 with the certainty of getting their food stolen and utensils 

 destroyed. 



5th and 6th August. — Through many miles of palm- 

 trees and plantains to a Boma or stockaded village, where 

 we slept, though the people were evidently suspicious and 

 unfriendly. 



1th August. — To a village, ill and almost every step in 

 pain. The people all ran away, and appeared in the distance 

 armed, and refused to come near — then came and threw 

 stones at us, and afterwards tried to kill those who went 

 for water. We sleep uncomfortably, the natives watching 

 us all round. Sent men to see if the way was clear. 



VOL. II. L 



