170 
Seven Years in Central Africa. 
[Feb. 
and was welcomed most warmly. He rose and gave me his seat, 
saying again and again, how glad he was to see me and how 
welcome I was to the Garenganze country. 
^th. — Sent Molenga a present this morning, though nothing 
like the value of the ivory and food he gave me. Still he 
seems quite satisfied, and says that it is myself and not my 
goods that they welcome. 
A HEALTHY SIGHT. 
February d>fh. — Upon going up to the chief's house this morning 
I was surprised to find none but women about the place. The 
natural conclusion was that the men were all away hunting ; but no, 
they were all off in the fields with Molenga. Taking the path to 
the fields I found Molenga in the midst of a considerable clearing, 
directing twenty-five stalwart men, with long-handled hoes, which 
they were using in fine style, hoeing to the beat of a drum. It 
was what might be called a healthy sight. I sat down and talked 
awhile with the chief In a short time women came with baskets 
of roasted corn for the hoers' breakfast. They tell me that it is 
the regular custom in this country for the men to do all the heavy 
work of tilling, and the women to do the after-work of clearing, 
etc., with light short-handled hoes. 
^th. — Marched again this morning, and camped at Kalasa's 
town, on the east bank of the Lukuruwe river. Some messengers 
came into camp, sent by Msidi to overtake a company of his 
men, bound for Bihe, whom we met yesterday. It seems that 
one of the company, while stealing food in a field, killed a man 
who was attempting to defend his corn. On hearing of this 
Msidi sent to stop the men ; not so much that the murderer 
might be punished as that certain rites might be performed to 
remove the stain of innocent blood. Otherwise some disaster 
might have befallen the party. 
lo^^ — A toilsome march through beautiful hills. To the 
south lay the Sombwe Hill and others beyond, in which are the 
inhabited caves, which Livingstone was on his way to visit when 
death overtook him on the south of Lake Bangweolo. 
I ifh. — A long tramp over very rough mountain country brought 
us to Uleya, only one day's journey from our destination. 
12th. — Sent Kasoma with letter to Msidi and 26 yards of cloth. 
