84 
Seven Years in Central Africa. 
[Oct. 
but they said they were all slaves, and were afraid to look at 
strangers. Another day brought us to Mahaha's town, close to 
the Gezangula ferry by which we intended to cross. Our way 
lay across low, flat country, full of marsh, which we had to 
wade through, sometimes struggling for miles up to the waist in 
water and rotting grass. I knew Mahaha pretty well, having met 
him at Lealui. Next morning we crossed over and walked 
to Leshuma, where I waited for carriers from Shesheke to take 
me up the river. 
RATAU AND THE KING'S DOG. 
Shortly after my return to Leshuma, Ratau, from Shesheke, came 
down with others, saying that the chief had sent the headman from 
the upper river with his boat to take me up. Mr. Westbeecli 
thought to go up and visit the chief at the same time, so we 
proposed to travel together. I went on to Shesheke, intending to 
await Mr. Westbeech's arrival, and remained as guest of Ratau, 
with whom I had many interesting conversations. A happy 
incident occurred, which was helpful to the old man. The king 
had commissioned Ratau to buy for him a very expensive 
greyhound, which Ratau had done, taking it with him to 
Shesheke, and intending to send it on to the king. Here the 
dog broke lose, and made for the road by which it had come. It 
would have to pass through a country infested with lions, and, 
worst of all, swim the Ungwesi and Zambesi, in both of which 
crocodiles abound, so that Ratau gave up all hope of ever seeing 
the dog again, and was much cast down. Shortly before, a horse 
in his care belonging to the king had been lost, also some goods ; 
and now, if this dog did not turn up, he might as well drown 
himself. He came into my " skerm " in great distress. I 
tried to soothe him; but he added, "It was of no use; he 
would never see the dog again." The thought struck me that 
this was an opportunity given me to prove the power of the God 
I had been speaking to him about two nights before. I prayed 
silently to the Lord about it, and felt confidence in telling Ratau 
that the dog would come back. " No, no," said he ; " No, no ; " 
and soon went away. In about an hour afterwards the dog came 
back. Some men cutting firewood had met it and turned it back. 
Poor Ratau could not find words to thank me and express his 
belief in the reality of my God. The news went all through the 
