260 MANENKO A SCOI/D. 



moana. This is a good means of arresting the attention, 

 and conveying important facts to the minds of these people. 



When erecting onr sheds at the village, Manenko fell 

 upon our friends from Masiko in a way that left no doubt 

 on our minds but that she is a most accomplished scold. 

 Masiko had, on a former occasion, sent to Samoana for 

 a cloth, a common way of keeping up intercourse, and, 

 after receiving it, sent it back, because it had the appear- 

 ance of having had " witchcraft medicine " on it ; this 

 was a grave offence, and now Manenko had a good excuse 

 for venting her spleen, the ambassadors having called 

 at her village, and slept in one of the huts without leave. 

 If her family was to be suspected of dealing in evil charms, 

 why were Masiko's people not to be thought guilty of 

 leaving the same in her hut ? She advanced and receded 

 in true oratorical style, belabouring her own servants 

 as well for allowing the offence, and, as usual in more 

 civilized feminine lectures, she leaned over the objects 

 of her ire, and screamed forth all their faults and failings 

 ever since they were born, and her despair of ever seeing 

 them become better, until they were all " killed by 

 alligators." Masiko's people followed the plan of re- 

 ceiving this torrent of abuse in silence, and, as neither 

 we nor they had anything to eat, we parted next morning. 

 In reference to Masiko selling slaves to the Mambari, they 

 promised to explain the relationship which exists between 

 even the most abject of his people and our common 

 Father ; and that no more kidnapping ought to be 

 allowed, as he ought to give that peace and security to 

 the smaller tribes on his eastern borders, which he so 

 much desired to obtain himself from the Makololo ; we 

 promised to return through his town when we came back 

 from the sea-coast. 



Manenko gave us some manioc-roots in the morning, 

 and had determined to carry our baggage to her uncle's, 

 Kabompo or Shinte. We had heard a sample of what 

 she could do with her tongue ; and as neither my men 

 nor myself had much inclination to encounter a scolding 

 from this black Mrs. Caudle, we made ready the packages ; 

 but she came and said the men whom she had ordered 

 for the service had not yet come ; they would arrive to- 

 morrow. Being on low and disagreeable diet, I felt 

 annoyed at this further delay, and ordered the packages 

 to be put into the canoes to proceed up the river without 



