258 ANKXE-ORNAMKNTS. 



ashes or pipe-clay in a piece of skin, and, taking up hand- 

 fuls, rub it on the chest and upper front part of each 

 arm ; others, in saluting, drum their ribs with their elbows ; 

 while others still, touch the ground with one cheek after 

 the other, and clap their hands. The chiefs go through 

 the manoeuvre of rubbing the sand on the arms, but only 

 make a feint at picking up some. When Sambanza had 

 finished his oration, he rose up, and showed his ankles 

 ornamented with a bundle of copper rings ; had they 

 been very heavy, they would have made him adopt a 

 straggling walk. Some chiefs have really so many, as to 

 be forced, by the weight and size, to keep one foot apart 

 from the other ; the weight being a serious inconvenience 

 in walking. The gentlemen like Sambanza, who wish to 

 imitate their betters, do so in their walk ; so you see 

 men, with only a few ounces of ornaments on their legs, 

 strutting along as if they had double the number of 

 pounds. When I smiled at Sambanza's walk, the people 

 remarked, " That is the way in which they show off their 

 lordship in these parts." 



Manenko was cmite decided in the adoption of the 

 policy of friendship with the Makololo which we recom- 

 mended ; and, by way of cementing the bond, she and 

 her counsellors proposed that Kolimbota should take a 

 wife among them. By this expedient she hoped to secure 

 his friendship, and also accurate information as to the 

 future intentions of the Makololo. She thought that he 

 would visit the Balonda more frequently afterwards, 

 having the good excuse of going to see his wife ; and 

 the Makololo would never, of course, kill the villagers 

 among whom so near a relative of one of their own children 

 dwells. Kolimbota, I found, thought favourably of the 

 proposition, and it afterwards led to his desertion from 

 us. 



On the evening of the day in which Manenko arrived, 

 we were delighted by the appearance of Mosantu and 

 an imposing embassy from Masiko. It consisted of all 

 his underchiefs, and they brought a fine elephant's tusk, 

 two calabashes of honey, and a large piece of blue baize, 

 as a present. The last was intended perhaps to show 

 me that he was a truly great chief, who had such stores 

 of white men's goods at hand that he could afford to give 

 presents of them ; it might also be intended for Mosantu, 

 for chiefs usually remember the servants ; I gave it to him. 



