298 SKIRMISH IN A FOREST. Chap. XXIL 



sent word to all the surrounding villages to aid him in 

 avenging the affront of a blow on the beard. As their courage 

 usually rises with success, I resolved to yield no more, and 

 departed. In passing through a forest in the country beyond 

 we were startled by a body of men rushing after us. They 

 began by knocking down the burdens of the hindermost of my 

 men, and several shots were fired, each party spreading out 

 on both sides of the path. I fortunately had a six-barrelled 

 revolver, and with this in my hand I staggered along the path 

 with two or three of my men, and fortunately encountered the 

 chief. The sight of the six barrels gaping into his stomach, 

 with my own ghastly visage looking daggers at his face, 

 seemed to produce an instant revolution in his martial feelings, 

 for he cried out, " Oh ! I have only come to speak to you, and 

 wish peace only." Mashauana had hold of him by the hand, 

 and found him shaking. We examined his gun, and found 

 that it had been discharged. Both parties crowded up to 

 their chiefs. The enemy protested their amicable intentions, 

 and my men alleged the fact of the goods having been knocked 

 down as evidence of the contrary. I requested all to sit 

 down, and then said to the chief, " If you have come with 

 peaceable intentions, we have no other ; go away home to 

 your village." He replied, "I am afraid lest you should 

 shoot me in the back." I rejoined, " If I wanted to kill you, 

 I could shoot you in the face as well." Mosantu called out to 

 me, "That's only a Makalaka trick; don't give him youi 

 back." But I said, " Tell him to observe that I am not afraid 

 of him ;" and, turning, mounted my ox and took my departure. 

 I mention this little skirmish with the object of showing that 

 the negro character in these parts is essentially cowardly, 

 except when influenced by success. Individually these tribes 

 have but little power, but a partial triumph over any body of 

 men would induce the whole country to rise in arms, and this 

 is the chief danger to be feared. 



In the evening we came to Moena Kikanje, and found him a 

 sensible man. He is the last of the Chiboque chiefs in this 

 direction, and is in alliance with Matiamvo, whose territory 

 commences a short distance beyond. His village is placed on 

 the east bank of the Quilo, which is here twenty yards wide, 



