Chap. XXIX. CONFLUENCE OF LOANGWA AND ZAMBESI. 381 



favourable report, and the women and children did not flee. 

 Here we found that traders, called Bazunga, whom I supposed 

 to be half-caste Portuguese, had been in tho habit of coming 

 in canoes, and that I was supposed to belong to them. That 

 we were looked upon with suspicion was evident from our 

 guides,' remarking to men in the gardens through which we 

 passed, " They have words of peace — all very fine; but lies 

 only, as the Bazunga are great liars." They thought we did 

 not understand them, but Sekwebu knew every word per- 

 fectly, and, without paying any ostensible attention to these 

 complimentary remarks, we ever afterwards took care to 

 explain that we were not Bazunga, but Makoa (English). 

 Ma Mburuma promised us canoes to cross the Loangwa in our 

 front. It was pleasant to see great numbers of men, women, 

 and boys come to look at the books, watch, looking-glass, 

 revolver, &c. They are a strong, muscular race, and both men 

 and women cultivate the ground. The deformed lips of the 

 women make them look very ugly; I never saw one smile. 

 They generally eat their corn only after it has begun to 

 sprout from steeping it in water. The village of Mburuma's 

 mother was picturesquely situated among high, steep hills; 

 and the valleys were occupied by gardens of native corn and 

 maize, growing luxuriantly. We were obliged to hurry along 

 on account of the tsetse, which had returned to this district 

 after the destruction of the cattle by marauders. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



Crossing the Loangwa. — Zumbo. — Difficulties with Mpende. — 

 Crossing the Zambesi. — Game-laws. — District of Chicova. 



14th. — We reached the confluence of the Loangwa and the 

 Zambesi, most thankful to God for His great mercies in 

 helping us thus far. Mburuma's people had behaved so sus- 

 piciously that we were by no means sure that we should not 

 be attacked in crossing the Loangwa. We saw them collect- 

 ing in large numbers, and, though professing friendship, they 

 kept at a distance from our camp. They have no intercourse 



