NEWS FROM HOME. 219 



who wields supreme power is a wise and prudent ruler, the result is highly 

 beneficial. 



Among the Banyai the women are treated with great respect, the 

 husband doing nothing that his wife disapproves. Notwithstanding this, a 

 barbarous custom prevails amongst them if a husband suspects his wife of 

 witchcraft or infidelity. A witch-doctor is called, who prepares the infusion 

 of a plant named goho, which the suspected party drinks, holding up her hand 

 to heaven in attestation of her innocence. If the infusion causes vomiting, 

 she is declared innocent ; but if it causes purging, she is held to be guilty, 

 and burned to death. In many cases the drinking of the infusion 

 causes death. This custom prevails, with modifications, amongst most of 

 the tribes of Central Africa, and is found as far west as Ambaca. When 

 a Banyai marries, so many head of cattle or goats are given to the 

 parents ; and unless the wife is bought in this way, the husband must enter 

 the household of his father-in law and do menial offices, the wife and her 

 family having exclusive control of the children. The Banyai men are a fine 

 race ; but the superior courage and skill Livingstone's men displayed in 

 hunting, won the hearts of the women ; but none of them would be tempted 

 into matrimony, where it involved subjection to their wives. 



Several of the chiefs through whose villages they passed occasioned some 

 trouble by disbelieving the statement of Livingstone, that he was unable 

 to make presents. A powerful chief, Nyakoba, who sympathised with their 

 condition, gave them a basket of maize, and another of corn, and provided 

 them with guides to Tete, advising them to shun the villages so as to avoid 

 trouble. This they succeeded in doing till within a few miles of Tete, where 

 they were discovered by a party of natives, who threatened to inform 

 Katolosa, the head chief of the district, that they were passing through the 

 country without leave. A present of two tusks satisfied them, and they were 

 allowed to depart. 



Within eight miles of Tete, Livingstone was so fatigued as to be unable 

 to go on, but sent some of his men with his letters of recommendation to the 

 commandant. About two o'clock on the morning of the 3rd of March, the 

 encampment was aroused by the arrival of two officers and a company of 

 soldiers sent with a supply of provisions for the party by the commandant. 

 As Livingstone and his men had been compelled for several days to live on 

 roots and honey, their arrival was most timely. He says, " It was the most 

 refreshing breakfast I ever partook of, and I walked the last eight miles with- 

 out the least feeling of weariness, although the path was so rough that one of 

 the officers remarked to me, ' This is enough to tear a man's life out of him.' 

 The pleasure experienced in partaking of that breakfast was only equalled by 

 the enjoyment of Mr. Gabriel's bed when I arrived at Loanda. It was also 

 enhanced by the news that Sebastopol had fallen, and the war was finished." 



