132 LIFE OF DAVID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



idea of a common origin for whites and blacks. This was a familiar illustra- 

 tion of Livingstone's in addressing the natives. 



Nyamoana's people were very superstitious, and it was here that he first 

 saw evidence of the existence of idolatry. The idol was a human head rudely 

 carved on a block of wood. His watch and pocket compass were scanned 

 with much curiosity ; but although invited to look at them by her husband, 

 the chief appeared to be afraid of them, and could not be persuaded to 

 approach near enough to see them. 



On expressing his intention of proceeding up the Leeba, which appeared 

 still to come from the direction he wished to go, Nyamoana urged him not to 

 do so, as there was a cataract in front, and the Balobale, whose country lies 

 to the west of the river, might kill the party. As the Balobale were unfriendly 

 to the Makololo, his attendants joined with her in urging that they should 

 proceed by land, and visit her brother Shinte. In the midst of the 

 discussion, Manenko appeared upon the scene, and, throwing her influence 

 into the scale, carried the day against the further ascent of the river. 



Manenko was a tall, well-formed, hardy, and masculine woman, about 

 twenty years of age ; a profusion of ornaments and medicines, supposed to act 

 as charms, being suspended about her person. She scarcely wore any 

 clothing, and her body was smeared with a mixture of fat and red ochre, as 

 a protection against the weather. When asked why she, who could procure 

 plenty of clothing, went about in a state of nudity, she replied that it was 

 necessary for her as chief to show her indifference to the weather. She was 

 a splendid pedestrian, and on a march made her attendants and companions 

 glad when she proposed a halt. Livingstone's people succumbed at once 

 to the strong will of this female ruler : and Livingstone himself, though reso- 

 lute and inflexible in carrying out his own purposes in his own way, was 

 compelled to give way to her wishes. What could he do or say when a 

 difference arose, when, approaching him, she put her hand on his shoulder in 

 a motherly way, and said, " Now my little man, just do as the rest have 

 done?" 



As the tribes in the districts where he now found himself had no cattle, 

 the party suffered severely from the want of food. All they had had for several 

 days was a small dole of manioc roots every evening from Nyamoana. This 

 was the state of affairs when Mosantu arrived from his visit to Masiko, 

 accompanied by an imposing embassy, consisting of his under chiefs, who 

 brought a fine elephant's tusk, two calabashes of honey, and a large 

 piece of blue baize, as presents. He sent his expressions of pleasure at 

 the return of the captives, and at the prospects of a peaceful alliance with 

 the Makololo. 



An ox was given by Livingstone as a return for his gifts ; but the poor 

 under chiefs were so hungry that they wished to kill and eat it. On asking 



