138 Seven Years in Central Africa. [Oct. 
and three of the fingers were joined together in one suppurating 
mass. The right hand was completely skinned, and the arms 
were more or less badly scalded. Upon enquiry I learned that 
the boy had been visiting, with some of his village mates, the 
town of one of Chipongi's sisters. When playing about he had 
stolen some beans belonging to this woman, who, to punish the 
child, put both his hands into a pot of water then boiling on the 
fire. The left hand was so much injured that she must have 
held it in the water for a few seconds. I understand that this 
creature in human shape has not even been called in question 
for her cruelty. 
A POOR START. 
October \oih. — With the help of a few women and stragglers 
that I picked up, I left Belmont to-day, crossed the Kineto river, 
and camped by the side of a small stream, only three miles from 
the starting-place. Yet it was a start, and I was satisfied. The 
porters I had engaged had acted so strangely that I was com- 
pelled to conclude that other things were working against me, 
and that for some reason the men were afraid to go. Two 
men, however, seemed determined to stick by me — Kasoma and 
Jombo. 
I piled the loads up as they were brought along, and paid the 
motley crowd a yard of cloth each for-their assistance ; set up my 
little tent, and sat down with a feeling of intense satisfaction at 
getting even such a start. Dick, however, was with me, in the 
best of, spirits, cooking some antelope flesh for my supper. My 
dog Bennie was told off to watch the loads, and Kasoma and 
Jombo built a shelter for themselves close by. 
wth. — Sent off messengers in all directions to call for 
carriers. Was willing to accept ofl'ers for one day's journey, if 
they would come. 
13//^. — Had prospect of getting another start this morning. 
After a hasty cup of coffee, by way of breakfast, I took 
down my tent and bundled it up. Those who had promised to 
come for loads were very dilatory, and it was towards mid-day 
before we began to get the loads out of camp. Sending some 
on ahead in charge of Kasoma, I told him to camp at a place 
called Nyani, some four miles off, and I remained behind, as 
there were still a few loads for which there were no carriers. 
