218 CATTLE— A FEAST. Chap. XVII 



the one he was wearing was old." I introduced the subject of 

 the Bible, but one of the old councillors broke in, and glided 

 off into other subjects. I now experienced the disadvantage 

 of having to speak through an interpreter ; on all ordinary 

 matters it was easy enough to carry on communication, but 

 when it came to the exposition of religious topics, in which 

 the interpreters themselves took no interest, it was uncom- 

 monly slow work. Neither could Katema's attention be 

 arrested, except by compliments, of which they have always 

 plenty to bestow as well as receive. We were strangers, and 

 knew that, as Makololo, W6 had not the best of characters, yet 

 his treatment of us was wonderfully good and liberal. 



I complimented him on the possession of cattle, and pleased 

 him by telling him how to milk the cows, of which he had 

 about thirty, realty splendid animals, reared from two which 

 he bought from the Balobale when he was young. They are 

 generally of a white colour and quite wild, running off with 

 graceful ease like a herd of elands on the approach of a 

 stranger. They excited the unbounded admiration of the 

 Makololo, and clearly proved that the country was well 

 adapted for them. When Katema wishes to slaughter one, he 

 is obliged to shoot it as if it were a buffalo. Matiamvo is said 

 to possess a herd of cattle in a similar state. 



As Katema did not offer an ox, we slaughtered one of our 

 own, and were delighted to get a meal of meat, after sub- 

 sisting so long on the light porridge and green maize of 

 Londa. On such occasions some pieces of the meat are in 

 the fire even before the process of skinning is completed. A 

 frying-pan full of these pieces having been got quickly read} T , 

 my men crowded about me, and I handed some all round. I 

 offered portions to the Balonda, which they declined, though 

 they are excessively fond of a little meat as an adjunct to 

 their vegetable diet. Their objection was not to the meat, 

 but to its having been cooked by us. My people, when 

 satisfied with a meal like that which they enjoy so often at 

 home, amused themselves by an uproarious dance. Katema 

 sent to ask what I had given them to produce so much 

 excitement. Intemese replied that it was their custom, and 

 that they meant no harm. The companion of the ox we 

 slaughtered refused food for two days, and repeatedly tried t3 



