CHIEFS ACTING AS PRIESTS. 543 



one pair brings the other exactly into the position in 

 which it must pierce the intruder. They cut like knives. 

 Horses dread this bush extremely : indeed, most of them 

 refuse to face its thorns. 



On reaching Mburuma's village, his brother came to 

 meet us. We explained the reason of our delay, and he 

 told us that we were looked upon with alarm. He said 

 that Siriatomba had been killed near the village of Selole, 

 and hence that man's fears. He added that the Italian 

 had come talking of peace, as we did, but had kidnapped 

 children and bought ivory with them, and that we were 

 supposed to be following the same calling. I pointed to 

 my men, and asked if any of these were slaves, and if 

 we had any children among them, and I think we satisfied 

 him that we were true men. Referring to our ill success 

 in hunting the day before, he said, " The man at whose 

 village you remained was in fault in allowing you to want 

 meat, for had he only run across to Mburuma he would 

 have given him a little meal, and, having sprinkled that 

 on the ground as an offering to the gods, you would have 

 found your elephant." The chiefs in these parts take 

 upon themselves an office somewhat like the priesthood, 

 and the people imagine that they can propitiate the Deity 

 through them. In illustration of their ideas, it may be 

 mentioned that, when we were among the tribes west of 

 Semalembue, several of the people came forward and 

 introduced themselves — one as a hunter of elephants, 

 another as a hunter of hippopotami, a third as a digger 

 of pitfalls — apparently wishing me to give them medicine 

 for success in their avocations, as well as to cure the 

 diseases of those to whom I was administering the drugs. 

 I thought they attributed supernatural power to them, 

 for, like all Africans, they have unbounded faith in the 

 efficacy of charms ; but I took pains to let them know 

 that they must pray and trust to another power than 

 mine for aid. We never saw Mburuma himself, and the 

 conduct of his people indicated very strong suspicions, 

 though he gave us presents of meal, maize, and native 

 corn. His people never came near us, except in large 

 bodies and fully armed. We had to order them to place 

 their bows, arrows, and spears at a distance before entering 

 our encampment. We did not, however, care much for 

 a little trouble now, as we hoped that, if we could pass 

 this time without much molestation, we might yet be able 



