94 APOLOGY OF THE CHIEF. Chap. IV. 



scowling defiance, and thrusting out his large lips very 

 significantly. The women were observed leaving the 

 village ; and, suspecting that mischief might ensue, we 

 proceeded on our journey, to the great disgust of our men. 

 They were very angry with the natives for their want of 

 hospitality to strangers, and with us, because we would 

 not allow them to give " the things a thrashing." " This 

 is what comes of going with white men," they growled 

 out ; " had we been with our own chief, we should have 

 eaten their goats to-night, and had some of themselves to 

 carry the bundles for us to-morrow." On our return by a 

 path which left his village on our right, Zimika sent to 

 apologize, saying that " he was ill, and in another village 

 at the time ; it was not by his orders we were sent away ; 

 his men did not know that we were a party wishing the 

 land to dwell in peace." 



We were not able, when hastening back to the men 

 left in the ship, to remain in the villages belonging to this 

 chief; but the people came after us with things for sale, 

 and invited us to stop, and spend the night with them, 

 urging, " Are we to have it said that white people passed 

 through our country and we did not see them ? " We 

 rested by a rivulet to gratify these sight-seers. We appear 

 to them to be red rather than white; and, though light 

 colour is admired among themselves, our clothing renders 

 us uncouth in aspect. Blue eyes appear savage, and a red 

 beard hideous. From the numbers of aged persons we saw 

 on the highlands, and the increase of mental and physical 

 vigour we experienced on our ascent from the lowlands, we 

 inferred that the climate was salubrious, and that our 

 countrymen might there enjoy good health, and also be of 

 signal benefit, by leading the multitude of industrious in- 

 habitants to cultivate cotton, buaze, sugar, and other 

 valuable produce, to exchange for goods of European 

 manufacture ; at the same time teaching them, by precept 

 and example, the great truths of our Holy Eeligion. 



