Chap. TX. VISIT OF CHINSUNSE. 251 



upwards of a hundred yards, and wounding one of our 

 followers through the arm. Our retiring slowly up the 

 ascent from the village only made them more eager to 

 prevent our escape ; and, in the belief that this retreat 

 was evidence of fear, they closed upon us in bloodthirsty 

 fury. Some came within fifty yards, dancing hideously ; 

 others having quite surrounded us, and availing them- 

 selves of the rocks and long grass hard by, were intent on 

 cutting us off, while others made off with their women 

 and a large body of slaves. Four were armed with 

 muskets, and we were obliged in self-defence to return 

 their fire and drive them off. When they saw the range 

 of rifles, they very soon desisted, and ran away ; but some 

 shouted to us from the hills the consoling intimation, that 

 they would follow, and kill us where we slept. Only two 

 of the captives escaped to us, but probably most of those 

 made prisoners that day fled elsewhere in the confusion. 

 We returned to the village which we had left in the morn- 

 ing, after a hungry, fatiguing, and most unpleasant day. 



Though we could not blame ourselves for the course 

 we had followed, we felt sorry for what had happened. It 

 was the first time we had ever been attacked by the 

 natives or come into collision with them ; though we had 

 always taken it for granted that we might be called upon 

 to act in self-defence, we were on this occasion less pre- 

 pared than usual, no game having been expected here. 

 The men had only a single round of cartridge each ; their 

 leader had no revolver, and the rifle he usually fired with 

 was left at the ship to save it from the damp of the season. 

 Had we known better the effect of slavery and murder on 

 the temper of these bloodthirsty marauders, we should 

 have tried messages and presents before going near them. 



The old chief, Chinsunse, came on a visit to us next 

 day, and pressed the Bishop to come and live with him. 

 " Chigunda," he said, " is but a child, and the Bishop 



