AN AFRICAN PIKEMAN. 141 



a wooden bridge across it, which Livingstone was surprised to find in the posses- 

 sion of a " pikernan " who demanded toll — a functionary he had not expected 

 to meet with so far from the confines of civilization. A payment of three 

 copper bracelets secured the passage of the party. For days their route was 

 across a country intersected by valleys through each of which flowed a 

 flooded stream, more or less difficult to cross. In passing one of these Living- 

 stone lost his hold of the tail of an ox, and swam unassisted to the other 

 side, to the great joy of his men, who leaped into the water to save him. 

 They had not known till then that he could swim, and expressed their satis- 

 faction and contempt for future difficulties of a similar nature by saying, 

 " We can all swim. Who carried the white man across the river but himself?" 



Livingstone's men, who had accompanied him from the Leeambye and 

 the Chobe, and passed through so many miles of country not half so fertile 

 as the region they had been passing through for days, expressed their 

 astonishment at the want of cattle and the non-cultivation of the soil, espe- 

 cially as the country was about as thickly peopled as their own. He came 

 to the conclusion that when wild game was abundant in the district it had 

 been afflicted with tsetse, and that now, on account of the introduction of 

 guns &c, these becoming scarce, the insect plague had ceased, a state of 

 matters of which, up to that time, Shinte, Katemo, and Matiamvo, were the 

 only chiefs who had had the wisdom to take advantage. 



The travellers were now in the country of the Chiboque, a people who, 

 through their connection with the Mambari had imbibed a passion for plun- 

 dering all strangers by way of toll for the right of passage through their 

 country, which subjected the party to much danger and inconvenience. 

 Wishing to be on good terms with Njambi, a chief of some consequence, the 

 hump and ribs of an ox they had slaughtered were sent to him. The gift 

 was accepted, and a present of food was promised next day, which resolved 

 itself into a small quantity of meal and a demand for a man, an ox, a gun, 

 some powder, or cloth. About mid-day the young men of the tribe began to 

 gather round the party; and as they were overheard remarking that they had 

 only five guns, it was evident they intended plundering and perhaps murder- 

 ing them. Livingstone's men stood on the defensive, while the young 

 Chiboque brandished their swords and pointed their guns at Livingstone, 

 who sat quietly on a camp stool with his double barrelled gun across his 

 knees. 



The resolute and calm demeanour of the party had its effect ; and the 

 chief consented to take a seat along with several of his headmen beside 

 Livingstone to talk matters over. He complained that one of his men, 

 Pitsane, had spat upon one of the Chiboque, and that the matter might be 

 settled by the present of a man, an ox, or a gun. It was no use explaining 

 to them that the offence was a pure accident, they were determined to have 



