234 ENGLISH SAILORS' FARM. Chap. IX. 



risk Kebrabasa any longer; but the fatigue of a day's 

 march over the hot rocks and burning sand changed their 

 tune before night; and then they regretted having left 

 the canoes ; they thought they should have dragged them 

 past the dangerous places, and then launched them again. 

 One of the two donkeys died from exhaustion near the 

 Luia. Though the men eat zebras and quaggas, blood re- 

 lations of the donkey, they were shocked at the idea of 

 eating the ass ; "it would be like eating man himself, 

 because the donkey lives with man, and is his bosom com- 

 panion." We met two large trading parties of Tette 

 slaves on their way to Zumbo, leading, to be sold for ivory, 

 a number of Manganja women, w T ith ropes round their 

 necks, and all made fast to one long rope. 



Panzo, the headman of the village east of Kebrabasa, 

 received us with great kindness. After the usual saluta- 

 tion he went up the hill, and, in a loud voice, called across 

 the valley to the women of several hamlets to cook supper 

 for us. About eight in the evening he returned, followed 

 by a procession of women, bringing the food. There were 

 eight dishes of nsima, or porridge, six of different sorts of 

 very good wild vegetables, with dishes of beans and 

 fowls ; all deliciously well cooked, and scrupulously clean. 

 The wooden dishes were nearly as white as the meal 

 itself : food also was brought for our men. Eipe mangoes, 

 which usually indicate the vicinity of the Portuguese, 

 were found on the 21st November ; and we reached Tette 

 early on the 23rd, having been absent a little over six 

 months. 



The two English sailors, left in charge of the steamer, 

 were well, had behaved well, and had enjoyed excellent 

 health all the time we were away. Their farm had been 

 a failure. We left a few sheep, to be slaughtered when 

 they wished for fresh meat, and two dozen fowls. Pur- 

 chasing more, they soon had double the number of the 



