chap. XVIII. MOKE TROUBLES. 23? 



worse for this rough treatment, but I would hardly recommend 

 it to others as a palliative in cases of fever. This last attack 

 of fever reduced me almost to a skeleton. The blanket which 

 I used as a saddle, being pretty constantly wet, caused exten- 

 sive abrasion of the skin, which was continually healing and 

 getting sore again. To this inconvenience was now added the 

 chafing of my projecting bones on the hard bed. 



On Friday we came to a village of civil people on the banks 

 of the Loajima. The bridges over it, and over another stream 

 which we crossed at midday, were submerged by a flood of 

 perfectly clear water, and we consequently got a soaking in 

 crossing them. At the second ford we were met 1 ■; a hostile 

 party who refused us further passage. I ordered my men to 

 proceed, but our enemies spread themselves out in front of us 

 with loud cries. As our numbers were about equal to theirs, 

 I moved on at the head of my men. Some of the enemy ran 

 off to other villages, or back to their own, on pretence of 

 getting ammunition ; others called out that all traders came 

 to them, and that we must do the same. As they had plenty 

 of iron-headed arrows and some guns, I ordered my men to cut 

 down some young trees and make a screen as quickly as pos- 

 sible, but to do nothing further except in case of actual attack. 

 I then dismounted, and, advancing a little towards our prin- 

 cipal opponent, showed him how easily I could kill him, and 

 then, pointing upwards, said, " I fear God." He did the 

 same, placing his hand on his heart, pointing upwards, and 

 saying, " I fear to kill ; but come to our village ; come — do 

 come." At this juncture the old head-man, Ionga Panza, a 

 venerable negro, came up, and I invited him to be seated, and 

 talk the matter over. Ionga Panza soon let us know that he 

 thought himself very ill-treated in being passed by. As most 

 skirmishes arise from misunderstanding, this might have been 

 a serious one ; for, like all the tribes near the Portuguese 

 settlements, they imagine that they have a right to demand 

 payment from eveiy one who passes through the country : 

 and now, though Ionga Panza was certainly no match for niy 

 men, yet they were determined not to forego that right with- 

 out a struggle. I removed with my men to the vicinity of 

 the village, which was pleasantly embowered ir lofty ever- 

 green trees hung rourd with festoons of creepers. He sent us 



T 



