LOAN OF ROOFS. 267 



The number of little villages seemed about equal to the 

 number of valleys. At some we stopped and rested, the 

 people becoming more liberal as we advanced. Others 

 we found deserted, a sudden panic having seized the 

 inhabitants, though the drum of Manenko was kept beaten 

 pretty constantly, in order to give notice of the approach 

 of great people. When we had decided to remain for the 

 night at any village, the inhabitants lent us the roofs of 

 their huts, which in form resemble those of the Makololo, 

 or a Chinaman's hat, and can be taken off the walls at 

 pleasure. They lifted them off, and brought them to the 

 spot we had selected as our lodging, and, when my men 

 had propped them up with stakes, they were then safely 

 housed for the night. Every one who conies to salute 

 either Manenko or ourselves, rubs the upper parts of the 

 arms and chest with ashes ; those who wish to show 

 profounder reverence, put some also on the face. 



We found that every village had its idols near it. This 

 is the case all through the country of the Balonda, so that, 

 when we came to an idol in the woods, we always knew 

 that we were within a quarter of an hour of human 

 habitations. One very ugly idol we passed, rested on a 

 horizontal beam placed on two upright posts. This beam 

 was furnished with two loops of cord, as of a chain, to 

 suspend offerings before it. On remarking to my com- 

 panions that these idols had ears, but that they heard not, 

 &c, I learned that the Balonda, and even the Barotse, 

 believe that divination may be performed by means of 

 these blocks of wood and clay ; and though the wood 

 itself could not hear, the owners had medicines by which 

 it could be made to hear and give responses ; so that if 

 an enemy were approaching they would have full infor- 

 mation. Manenko having brought us to a stand, on 

 account of slight indisposition and a desire to send forward 

 notice of our approach to her uncle, I asked why it was 

 necessary to send forward information of our movements, 

 if Shinte had idols who could tell him everything ? 

 " She did it only," * was the reply. It is seldom of much 

 use to show one who worships idols the folly of idolatry, 

 without giving something else as an object of adoration 

 instead. They do not love them. They fear them, and 



* This is a curious African, idiom by which a person implies he 

 had no particular reason for his act. 



