142 DRUNKEN FERRY-MEN. Chap. V. 



Pangola. Do you not see Pangola?" Mbia was just 

 going by at the time with the donkey, and, proud of every 

 opportunity of airing his small stock of English, shouted 

 in reply, " All right ! then get on." " Click, click, click." 



On the 26th June we breakfasted at Zumbo, on the left 

 bank of the Loangwa, near the ruins of some ancient 

 Portuguese houses. The Loangwa was too deep to be 

 forded, and there were no canoes on our side. Seeing two 

 small ones on the opposite shore, near a few recently 

 erected huts of two half-castes from Tette, we halted for 

 the ferry-men to come over. From their movements it 

 was evident that they were in a state of rollicking 

 drunkenness. Having a waterproof cloak, which could 

 be inflated into a tiny boat, we sent Mantlanyane across 

 in it. Three half-intoxicated slaves then brought us the 

 shaky canoes, which we lashed together and manned with 

 our own canoe-men. Five men were all that we could 

 carry over at a time ; and after four trips had been made 

 the slaves began to clamour for drink ; not receiving any, 

 as we had none to give, they grew more insolent, and 

 declared that not another man should cross that day. 

 Sininyane was remonstrating with them, when a loaded 

 musket was presented at him by one of the trio. In an 

 instant the gun was out of the rascal's hands, a rattling 

 shower of blows fell on his back, and he took an in- 

 voluntary header into the river. He crawled up the bank 

 a sad and sober man, and all three at once tumbled from 

 the height of saucy swagger to a low depth of slavish 

 abjectness. The musket was found to have an enormous 

 charge, and might have blown our man to pieces, but for 

 the promptitude with which his companions administered 

 justice in a lawless land. We were all ferried safely 

 across by 8 o'clock in the evening. 



In illustration of what takes place where no govern- 

 ment, or law exists, the two half-castes, to whom these 



