Chap. XV. THE BALOXDA. 187 



talker, by whom it was transmitted to the husband, and by 

 him again to his wife. It was thus rehearsed four times over, 

 in a tone loud enough to bo heard by the whole party of 

 auditors. The response came back by the same roundabout 

 route, beginning at the lady to her husband, &c. After ex- 

 planations and re-explanations I perceived that our friends 

 were mixing me up with Makololo affairs ; I therefore stated 

 that my message of peace and friendship was delivered on the 

 authority of the great Creator, and that, if the Makololo again 

 broke His laws by attacking the Balonda, the guilt would 

 rest with them and not with me. The palaver then came to 

 a close. 



By way of gaining their confidence I showed them my 

 hair, which is considered a curiosity in all this region. They 

 said, " Is that hair? It is the mane of a lion, and not hair at 

 all." I could not return the joke by telling them that theirs 

 was not hair but w r ool, for they have no sheep in their 

 country, and therefore would not have understood me. So I 

 contented myself with asserting that mine was the real 

 original hair, such as theirs would have been, had it not been 

 scorched and frizzled by the sun. In proof of what the sun 

 could do, I compared my own bronzed face and hands with 

 the white skin of my chest. They readily believed that, as 

 they are fully exposed to the sun's influence, we might be of 

 common origin after all. 



The Balonda are real negroes, having much more wool on 

 their heads and bodies than any of the Bechuana or Caftre 

 tribes. They are generally very dark, but occasionally of a 

 lighter hue. They bear a general similarity to the typical 

 negro, having heads somewhat elongated backwards and 

 upwards, thick lips, flat noses, &c. &c. ; but there are also 

 many good-looking, well-shaped heads and persons among 

 them. The dress of the men consists of the softened skins 

 of small animals, such as the jackal and wild cat, suspended 

 before and behind from a girdle. The dress of the women is 

 of a nondescript character. 



They are more superstitious than any people we had yet 

 encountered ; though still only building their village, they 

 had erected two little sheds, in which were placed two pots 

 with charms in them. When I asked what medicine they 



