" I FEAR GOD." 327 



On Friday we came to a village of civil people on the 

 banks of the Loajima itself, and we were wet all day in 

 consequence of crossing it. The bridges over it, and 

 another stream which we crossed at mid-day, were sub- 

 merged, as we have hitherto invariably found, by a flood 

 of perfectly clear water. At the second ford we were 

 met by a hostile party who refused us further passage. 

 I ordered my men to proceed in the same direction we had. 

 been pursuing, but our enemies spread themselves out 

 in front of us with loud cries. Our numbers were about 

 equal to theirs this time, so I moved on at the head of my 

 men. Some ran ofT to other villages, or back to their 

 own village, on pretence of getting ammunition ; others 

 called out that all traders came to them, and that we must 

 do the same. As these people had plenty of iron -headed 

 arrows and some guns, when we came to the edge of the 

 forest I ordered my men to put the luggage in our centre ; 

 and, if cur enemies did not fire, to cut down some young 

 trees and make a screen as quickly as possible, but do 

 nothing to them except in case of actual attack. I then 

 dismounted, and, advancing a little towards our principal 

 opponent, showed him. how easily I could kill him, but 

 pointed upwards, saying, " I fear God." He did the same, 

 placing his hand on his heart, pointing upwards, and 

 saying, " I fear to kill ; but come to our village ; come 

 — d.o come." At this juncture, the old headman, Ionga 

 Panza, a venerable negro, came up, and I invited him 

 and all to be seated, that we might talk the matter over. 

 Ionga Panza soon let us know that he thought himself 

 very ill-treated in being passed by. As most skirmishes 

 arise from misunderstanding, this might have been a 

 serious one ; for, like all the tribes near the Portuguese 

 settlements, people here imagine that they have a right 

 to demand payment from every one who passes through 

 the country ; and now, though Ionga Panza was certainly 

 no match for my men., yet they were determined not to 

 forego their right without a struggle. I removed with 

 my men to the vicinity of the village, thankful that no 

 accident had as yet brought us into actual collision. 



The reason why the people have imbibed the idea so 

 strongly, that they have a right to demand payment for 

 leave to pass through the country, is probably this. They 

 have seen no traders except those either engaged in pur- 

 chasing slaves, or who have slaves in their employment. 



