196 MANENKO'S WHIMS. Chap. XVI. 



resting; on a horizontal beam supported by two uprights. On 

 remarking to my companions that these idols had ears, but 

 that they heard not, &c, I learned that, though the wood 

 itself could not hear, the owners had medicines by which it 

 could be made to hear and give responses ; so that, if an enemy 

 were approaching, they would have full information. Manenko 

 having brought us to a stand, through a desire to send notice 

 of our approach to her uncle, I asked why it was necessary to 

 give information of our movements, if Shinte had idols who 

 could tell him everything ? " She did it only," was the reply, 

 implying that she had no reason to give. It is seldom of 

 much use to point out the folly of idolatry, unless an object 

 of adoration be supplied in place of the idols. 



Whilst delayed, by Manenko's management, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the town of Shinte, we were well supplied by the 

 villagers with sweet potatoes and green maize. I was labour- 

 ing under fever, and therefore did not find it very difficult 

 to exercise patience ; but as it was Saturday, I proposed to go 

 to the town for Sunday (15th). " No," she objected ; " her 

 messenger must return from her uncle first." Being sure 

 that the answer of the uncle would be favourable, I suggested 

 that we might proceed at once. " No," she said, " it is not our 

 custom ;" and everything else I could urge was answered in the 

 same pertinacious style. She ground some meal for me with 

 her own hands, and told me with a self-satisfied air that she had 

 actually gone to a village and begged corn for the purpose. 

 It was a fine day for a wonder, and the sun shone so as to 

 allow us to dry our clothing and other goods, many of which 

 had become mouldy from the constant rain. The guns were 

 rusted, in spite of being oiled every evening. On Sunday 

 afternoon messengers arrived from Shinte, expressing his 

 approbation of the objects we had in view, and his joy at the 

 prospect of a way being opened by which white men might 

 visit him. Manenko now threatened in sport to go on, and I 

 soon afterwards perceived that her dilly-dallying way was the 

 proper mode of making acquaintance with the Balonda ; and 

 that much of the favour with which I was received was due 

 to my sending forward messengers to state the object of our 

 coming, without which precaution our arrival would have 

 caused alarm to the inhabitants. Shinte sent us two large 



