154 Seven Years in Central Africa. [Dec. 
passages of Scripture in Portuguese to the two mulattoes who are 
with me ; they in turn explained to my carriers, who told all over 
again to the crowd of aborigines around. This is, I may say, 
the only way of interpreting. Anyone who knows the thick 
darkness which possesses the minds of these people will under- 
stand how little of the truth of the Scriptures read will reach the 
aborigines, much less be understood by them. Still, I was 
encouraged in remembering Psalm cxxxix. : " Made in secret ; 
curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth." How blessed 
is the service of our God ! He leadeth captivity captive, and 
giveth gifts unto men. 
sumbula's generosity. 
November ^oth. — Early this morning we again reached the Luena 
river, now quite a large stream, and had much trouble in getting the 
goods across dry by a roughly-made bridge, half sunk in the 
river. I took my ox further up to clear water, and drove him 
across, and then rolling my clothes round my head, like a great 
turban, I swam after him. A short way from the river a small 
chief met us with his drum beating, and with a goat as a present, 
to induce me to camp by his town. It was early in the day, 
but speed is no object now when food is plentiful, and desiring 
to be as much among the people as possible, we camped where 
he asked us. His name is Sumbula, a sensible-looking man, 
very anxious that I should accept an ox as a present. I refuse 
it, however, and shall be content with a goat. I know that 
in return he would expect powder, calico, and clothing in pro- 
portion. 
December ist — At Sumbula's request I remain with him to-day. 
He has been most importunate about my receiving his gift, and 
seeing that I was afraid to eat his ox, because of the recompense 
it would entail, he gave me a receipt for the ox in full as if I had 
bought and paid for it. This he did, as is the custom amongst 
the Chibokwe, by first declaring the matter to his people, then 
taking a twig, breaking it in two and throwing a part over each 
shoulder. The whole twig in front of him represented the 
question on hand ; the twig broken and cast behind the chiefs 
back, the question decided and forgotten ; for even to refer to 
Si matter after it has been formally settled in this way is con- 
