156 A«PICHO." Chap. XIII. 



are reported to have been as savage as the Makololo. The 

 benefits which to a casual observer may be inappreciable are 

 worth all the money and labour that have been expended tr. 

 produce them. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Linyanti. — Descent of the Chobe. — Ascent of the Leeambye. 



Linyanti, September, 1853. — The object proposed to the Mako- 

 lolo seemed so desirable, that it was resolved to proceed with 

 it as soon as the cooling influence of the rains should be 

 felt in November. The longitude and latitude of Linyanti 

 showed that St. Philip de Benguela was much nearer to us 

 than Loanda ; and I might have easily made arrangements 

 with the Mambari to allow me to accompany them as far as 

 Bihe, which is on the road to that port ; but it is so undesirable 

 to travel in a path once trodden by slave-traders, that I pre- 

 ferred to discover another line of march. 



Accordingly, men were sent at my suggestion to examine 

 all the country to the west, to see if a route could be found 

 free from tsetse. The search was fruitless. The town and 

 district of Linyanti are surrounded by forests infested by this 

 poisonous insect, except at a few points, such as that by 

 which we entered at Sanshureh and another at Sesheke. The 

 Mambari had informed me that many English lived at 

 Loanda. Thither I prepared to go, and the prospect of 

 meeting with countrymen seemed to overbalance the toils 

 of the longer march. 



A " picho " was called to deliberate on the terms proposed. 

 In these assemblies great freedom of speech is allowed ; and 

 on this occasion one of the old diviners said, "Where is he 

 taking you to? This white man is throwing you away. 

 Your garments already smell of blood." This man was a noted 

 croaker. He always dreamed something dreadful at every 

 expedition, and was certain that an eclipse or comet betokened 

 the propriety of flight. Sebituane formerly set his visions 



