Chap. X. marenga's generosity. 265 



with hers. On our return south from the mountains near 

 the north end of the lake, we reached Marenga's on the 

 7th October. When he could not prevail upon us to forego 

 the advantage of a fair wind for his invitation to " spend 

 the whole day drinking his beer, which was," he said, 

 " quite ready," he loaded us with provisions, all of which 

 he sent for before we gave him any present. In allusion 

 to the boat's sail, his people said that they had no Bazimo, 

 or none worth having, seeing they had never invented the 

 like for them. The chief, Mankambira, likewise treated 

 us with kindness ; but wherever the slave-trade is carried 

 on, the people are dishonest and uncivil ; that invariably 

 leaves a blight and a curse in its path. The first question 

 put to us at the lake crossing-places, was, " Have you 

 come to buy slaves ? " On hearing that we were English, 

 and never purchased slaves, the questioners put on a super- 

 cilious air, and sometimes refused to sell us food. This 

 want of respect to us may have been owing to the impres- 

 sions conveyed to them by the Arabs, whose dhows have 

 sometimes been taken by English cruisers when engaged 

 in lawful trade. Much foreign cloth, beads, and brass- 

 wire were worn by these ferrymen — and some had 

 muskets. 



By Chitanda, near one of the slave crossing-places, we 

 were robbed for the first time in Africa, and learned by 

 experience that these people, like more civilized nations, 

 have expert thieves among them. It might be only a 

 coincidence ; but we never suffered from impudence, loss of 

 property, or were endangered, unless among people 

 familiar with slaving. We had such a general sense of 

 security, that never, save when we suspected treachery, 

 did we set a watch at night. Our native companions had, 

 on this occasion, been carousing on beer, and had removed 

 to a distance of some thirty yards, that we might not over- 

 hear their free and easy after-dinner remarks, and two of 



