152 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap- XXVI. 
encouraged by the natives ; indeed I think myself 
justified in supposing that a slave is very rarely 
allowed to marry. This is an important circumstance 
in considering domestic slavery in Central Africa; 
for if these domestic slaves do not of themselves 
maintain their numbers, then the deficiency arising 
from ordinary mortality must constantly be kept up 
by a new supply, which can only be obtained by kid- 
napping or, more generally, by predatory incursions, 
and it is this necessity which makes even domestic 
slavery appear so baneful and pernicious. The 
motive for making these observations in this place 
was the sight of a band of slaves, whom we met this 
morning, led on in two files, and fastened one to 
the other by a strong rope round the neck. 
Our march was to be but a short one, as we were 
to pass the remainder of the day and the following 
night in Gezawa; and as it was still long before noon, 
and we had the hottest time of the day before us, I 
was anxious to encamp outside the town in the shade 
of some fine tree, but my escort would not allow me 
to do so. We therefore entered the town, which is 
surrounded with a clay wall in tolerable repair, and 
moreover by a small ditch on the outside ; but the 
interior presents a desolate aspect, only about a 
third part of the space being occupied by detached 
cottages. Here I was lodged in a small hot shibki 
(reed hut), and passed the " eni " most uncomfortably, 
cursing my companion and all the escorts in the world, 
and resolved never again to take up my quarters 
