Chap. AX1A. DANCING FOR CORN. 385 



advised us to cross the river at once, as Mpende lived on this 

 side. Wishing to follow his advice, we proposed to borrow 

 his canoes ; but being afraid to offend the lords of the river, 

 he declined, and we were consequently obliged to remain on 

 the enemy's side. The next island belonged to a man named 

 Zungo, a fine frank fellow, who brought us at once a present 

 of corn, bound in a peculiar way in grass. He freely accepted 

 our apology for having no present to give in return, and 

 sent forward a recommendation to his brother-in-law Pangola. 

 The country adjacent to the river is covered with dense bush, 

 thorny and tangled, and there is much rank grass, though not 

 so high or rank as that of Angola. The maize, however, 

 which is grown here is equal in size to that which the Ameri- 

 cans sell for seed at the Cape. There is usually a low beach 

 adjacent to the river, studded with villages and gardens, and 

 elsewhere covered with rank and reedy grass. A second terrace 

 follows, on which trees and bushes abound ; I also thought I 

 could detect a third and higher steppe ; but I never could 

 discover terraces on the adjacent country, such as in other 

 countries show ancient sea-beaches. The path runs sometimes 

 on the one and sometimes on the other of these river terraces. 

 Canoes are essential ; but I find that they here cost too much 

 for my means, and higher up, where my hoes might have 

 secured one, I was unwilling to be parted from my men while 

 there was danger of their being attacked. 



18th. — Yesterday we rested under a broad-spreading fig- 

 tree. Large numbers of buffaloes and water-antelopes were 

 feeding quietly in the meadows, a sure indication that the 

 people have either no guns or no ammunition. Pangola 

 visited us, and presented us with food. My men got pretty 

 well supplied individually, for they went into the villages 

 and commenced dancing. The young women were especially 

 pleased with the steps they exhibited, though I suspect many 

 of them were invented for tte occasion, and would say, 

 "Dance for me, and I will grind corn for you." At every 

 fresh instance of liberality Sekwebu said, " Did not I tell you 

 that these people had hearts ?" All agreed that the character 

 he had given was true, and some remarked, " Look ! although 

 we have been so long away from home, not one of us has 

 bwome lean." It was a fact that we had been all well sup- 



