i882.] 
Among the Barotse. 
51 
and so took me on board his craft without any question. We 
had not got far, however, when Mr. Blockley's boy, who was 
rowing in front, told him I was a Marute; i.e., a teacher. Much 
alarmed at this, the old man wanted to take me back again. The 
boy seemed to understand the difficulty, for he put matters 
right by assuring him that I was not one of the Panda-ma-tenka 
Maruies (Jesuits who are staying there), but quite different. After 
a good deal of explanation on the boy's part, the boatman 
pushed on and took me across. Mr. Blockley came in the next 
boatload, and was able to pacify the old man. It seems that he 
has orders not to allow the Jesuits to cross the river until the 
chief sends down word. After settling with the boatman, we set 
off for the nearest town, intending to sleep there. 
KINDNESS OF THE BATOKA. 
The north bank of the river rises steep from the water's edge, 
so our way lay uphill. As the sun was setting, I had a grand 
view of the river and of miles upon miles of country stretching 
far south, beautifully undulating and thickly wooded. We arrived 
at a little Batoka town in the evening, and were well received. 
The people showed us into a reed yard, with a hut in the centre 
for our use, but we preferred, as the night was fine, to sleep on 
the open ground. They gave us a goat to kill, and food for the 
men, at the same time bringing a supply of firewood and making 
a grass hut. The reception these Batoka gave us was so simple 
and kindly that they quite won my heart. I felt I had not 
thought of them in vain, and, without going another step, would 
wilhngly have settled amongst them ; but they are a conquered 
people, and therefore I must see the king of the country ere I 
can settle in it. 
August 26th. — After Mr. Blockley had bought a little corn that 
was brought here, we set off for the town of Mogumba, the chief 
of this part of the river. We found it partly deserted through 
failure of crops, all the men being out hunting, and Mogumba at 
Shesheke. His chief wife, however, entertained us to the best 
of her ability. I heard from the Batoka that Mr. Westbeech was 
still at Shesheke, having been detained there about a month 
through the illness of the man in charge of his boat, and that it 
was possible I might arrive before he left. I expected to get 
