Feb. 1886.] 
Stay in Garenganze. 
173 
proved that my heart was rotten, and that I was not to be 
trusted. 
Another test was on this wise : They cut off the head of a 
live fowl, which was then thrown into the middle of the yard, 
and the diviner, watching its dying struggles, judged as to my 
designs from the position in which it lay when dead. If the 
neck had pointed in the direction of my camp, danger from that 
quarter would have been indicated \ but if not, then I and 
my companions were clear. It so happened that after some days 
of such ceremonies and tests all things turned out in my favour. 
They had nothing against me, and so were willing to obey their 
king's command and unite in giving me a hearty welcome to their 
country. 
PUBLIC RECEPTION. 
On the day appointed for my reception by Msidi I rode down 
on my ox to the chief's town, meeting on the way large companies 
of people, who had come to greet me and my eight men, who 
had been careful to dress in their best for the occasion. At last 
we reached the yard where Msidi was awaiting me. I found him 
an old-looking man, with rather a pleasant, smooth face, and 
a short beard, quite white. As I approached he rose from his 
chair and came forward to meet me, folding his arms round me; in 
the most fatherly way ; indeed, his reception was quite affecting. 
Behind and on either side of him were large companies of 
women ; these he introduced to me as his wives, of whom he has 
in all some five hundred. After the ceremony of shaking hands 
with wives, brothers, cousins, and other relatives was over, he 
sent for the nurse of one of his children, who brought a child 
about eighteen months old. This little boy was placed by Msidi 
upon my knee before all the company as his present, and he 
assured me that he was my child henceforth. Yota is the child's 
name. 
I was rather pleased with the appearance of Msidi's sons. 
Indeed, all his faniily and people are wonderfully well behaved 
for Africans. Immorality is, of course, very great ; but respectful, 
courteous behaviour towards one another is insisted upon by the 
king. He opposes all hashish smoking, and is not favourable 
to the use of tobacco in any form. He insists upon his sons 
acquiring a knowledge of useful employments. Kalasa, the 
