192 CHARMS Chap XVj. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Land journey to Shinte's town. — Reception by the chief. — 

 His friendship. 



11th January, 1854. — On starting this morning Samoana (or 

 rather Nyamoana, for the ladies are the chiefs here) presented 

 a string of beads, and a shell of high value, as an atonement 

 for having assisted Manenko to vex me the day before. 

 They were much pleased when I replied that I never kept up 

 my anger all night. We had to cross a stream which flows 

 past the village of Nyamoana. Manenko's doctor waved 

 some charms over her, and she took some in her hand and on 

 her body before she ventured in the canoe. When one of my 

 men spoke rather loudly near the basket of medicines, the 

 doctor reproved him, and always spoke in a whisper himself, 

 glancing back to the basket as if afraid of being heard by 

 something therein. Such superstition is quite unknown in 

 the south, and is mentioned here to show the difference in 

 the feelings of this new people, as con^ared with the Caffres 

 and Bechuanas. 



Manenko was accompanied by her husband and her drum- 

 mer, who continued to thump most vigorously until a heavy 

 mist compelled him to desist. Her husband used various 

 incantations to drive away the rain, but down it poured 

 incessantly, our Amazon leading the way through it all, in 

 the very lightest marching order, and at a pace that few of 

 the men could rival. Being on ox-back, I kept pretty close 

 to our leader ; and on my asking her why she did not clothe 

 herself during the rain, I was informed that a chief ought not 

 to appear effeminate, but must always wear the appearance 

 of robust youth, and bear vicissitudes without wincing. My 

 men, in admiration of her pedestrian powers, kept remarking, 

 " Manenko is a soldier ;" and we were all glad when she 

 proposed a halt to prepare our night's lodging on the banks of 

 a stream. 



