710 LIFE OF DA YID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



stone -when lie and I were menaced by the cannibal Wabembe, I gave orders 

 that none should leave camp until we could ascertain what this hostile pro- 

 ceeding meant, and that none should by any demonstration provoke the 

 natives. While we waited to see what the Waturu intended to do, their 

 numbers increased tenfold, and every bush and tree hid a warrior. Our 

 camp was situated on the edge of a broad wilderness that extended westward 

 many days' march ; but to the north, east, and south, nothing was seen save 

 villages and cultivated ground, which, with the careless mode of agriculture 

 in vogue amongst savages, contained acres of dwarf shrubbery. I doubt, 

 however, whether throughout this valley a better locality for a camp could 

 have been selected than the one we had chosen. Fifty or sixty yards around us 

 was open ground, so that we had the advantage of clear space to prevent the 

 approach of an enemy unseen. A slight fence of bush served to screen our 

 numbers from those without the camp, but having had no occasion to suspect 

 hostilities, it was but ill adapted to shield us from attack. 



" When the Waturu had become so numerous in our vicinity that we no 

 longer doubted they were summoned to fight us, I despatched a young man 

 who knew their language to ascertain their intention. As he advanced to- 

 wards them six or seven warriors drew near to talk with him. When he 

 returned he informed us that one of our men had stolen some milk and butter 

 from a small village, and that we must pay for it in cloth. The messenger 

 was sent back to tell them that white men did not come to their country to 

 rob or quarrel ; that they had but to name the price of what was stolen to be 

 paid at once, and that not one grain of corn or millet-seed should be appro- 

 priated by us wrongfully. Upon this the principal warriors drew nearer, until 

 we could hear their voices plainly, though we did not understand the nature 

 of the conversation. The messenger informed us that the elders demanded 

 four yards of sheeting, which was about six times the value of the stolen 

 articles ; but at such a moment it was useless to haggle over so trifling a 

 demand, and the cloth was paid. When it was given to them the elders said 

 they were satisfied and withdrew. 



"It soon became evident, however, though the elders were content, the 

 warriors were not, as they could be seen hurrying by scores from all parts of 

 the valley, and gesticulating violently in crowds. Still we waited patiently, 

 hoping that if the old men and principal warriors were really well disposed 

 towards us their voices would prevail, and that they would be able to assuage 

 the wild passions which now seemed to animate the others. As we watched 

 them we noted that about two hundred detached themselves from the gesticu- 

 lating crowds east of the camp, and disappeared, hurrying to the thick bush 

 west of us. Soon afterwards one of my men returned from that direction 

 bleeding profusely from the face and arm, and reported that he and a youth 

 named Sulieman were out collecting firewood when they were attacked by a 



