206 SHTNTE'S LAST PROOF OF FRIENDSHIP. Chap. XVII. 



for my use on the joun.ey, and, as it rained nearly all da} r , 

 It was no sacrifice to submit to his advice and remain. 

 Sambanza staggered to Manenko, who coolly bundled him 

 into the hut, and put him to bed. 



As the last proof of friendship, Shinte came into my tent 

 and examined all the curiosities, the quicksilver, the looking- 

 glass, books, hair-brushes, comb, watch, &c. &c, with the 

 greatest interest ; then closing the tent, so that none of his 

 own people might see his extravagance, he drew out from his 

 clothing a string of beads, and the end of a conical shell, 

 which is considered, in regions far from the sea, of as great 

 value as the Lord Mayor's badge is in London. He hung it 

 round my neck, and said, " There, now you have a proof oi 

 my friendship." My men informed me that these shells are 

 so highly valued, as evidences of distinction, that two of them 

 would purchase a slave, and five would be considered a 

 handsome price for an elephant's tusk worth ten pounds. At 

 our last interview Shinte pointed out our principal guide, 

 Intemese, a man about fifty, who was, he said, ordered to 

 remain b}^ us till we should reach the sea ; adding, that I had 

 now left Sekeletu far behind, and must henceforth look to 

 Shinte alone for aid, which would always be most cheer- 

 fully rendered. This was only a polite way of expressing his 

 wishes for my success. He gave us a good supply of food, 

 and, after mentioning, as a reason for letting us go even now, 

 that no one could say we had been driven away from the 

 town, since we had been several days with him, he gave a 

 most hearty salutation, and we parted with the wish that God 

 <V>) might bless him. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



The Lonaje. — Cazembe. — Flooded plains, — The Lokalueje.— 

 The Lotembwa. — The chief Katema. — Lake Dilolo. 



26th. — Leaving Shinte, we passed down the lovely valley on 

 which the town stands, and then through pretty open forest, 

 to a village of Balonda, where we halted for the night. In 



