Chap. XVII. INTEMESE'S FICTION. 209 



system we now meant to follow. They either spoke too 

 imperiously to strangers, or, when reproved for that, were 

 disposed to follow the dictation of every one we met. On the 

 31st of January I managed, after considerable opposition on 

 the part of Intemese, to get my party under weigh for the 

 Leeba, which we soon reached, and found to be only about a 

 hundred yards wide, and of the same dark mossy hue as I 

 have before described. The villagers lent us canoes to effect 

 our passage, which took about four hours ; and having gone to 

 a village about two miles beyond the river, I had the satis- 

 faction of getting observations for both longitude and latitude, 

 and found myself to be in long. 22° 57' E. ; lat. 12° 6' 6" S. 



February 1st. — We had a fine view of two hills called Firi 

 (Peeri), meaning " two," on the opposite side of the river, in 

 a district named Mokwankwa. Intemese informed us that 

 one of Shinte's children was born there, during his progress 

 southwards from the country of Matiamvo, whence it would 

 appear that Shinte's people have only recently entered the 

 country they now occupy. Indeed, Intemese informed me 

 he himself had come into his present country by command of 

 Matiamvo. 



We were surprised to find English cotton cloth much more 

 prized than beads and ornaments by the inhabitants of this 

 district. They are more in need of clothing than the Bechu- 

 ana tribes living adjacent to the Kalahari Desert, who have 

 plenty of skins for the purpose. Animals of all kinds are rare 

 here, and calico is proportionately valuable. 



In the midst of the heavy rain, which continued all the 

 morning, Intemese sent to say he was laid up with pains in 

 the stomach, and must not be disturbed ; but when it cleared 

 up, about eleven, I saw our friend walking off to the village, 

 apparently in excellent health, and talking with a very loud 

 voice. On reproaching him for telling an untruth, he turned 

 it off with a laugh, saying that he really had a complaint in 

 his stomach, which could only be remedied by a supply of 

 beef. He was evidently revelling in the abundance of good 

 food supplied by the chief's orders, and did not share my 

 feeling of shame when I gave only a few beads in return for 

 large baskets of meal. 



One of Intemese's men stole a fowl which the lady of tho 



