174 
Seven Years in Central Africa. 
[Feb. 
oldest, is quite a skilful worker in horn, making out of the 
horns of large animals powder flasks neatly mounted with copper 
and brass. Another of Msidi's sons is a proficient blacksmith. 
Their livelihood does not depend upon these trades, but they 
are followed as accomplishments. 
The male portion of Msidi's communities, as I have already 
mentioned, have to do a large share of the manual labour, and 
the part Msidi takes in this is very commendable. Not only 
does he go to the fields with his people to labour, but he 
encourages his own sons to work, and so makes labour honour- 
able. I have seen him go out every day with a large band of 
hoers for weeks together, and often stand in the middle of 
the field when rain was falling heavily, watching the workers. At 
other times his people would have left their work for shelter, but 
when Msidi was there they had to be " wet-weather soldiers." 
ARAB TRADERS. 
During my first interview with the king I was introduced to 
several traders, of Arab descent, from Zanzibar. The Arabs 
have been long in communication with the Garenganze country, 
which is known to them as " Katanga," famous all over Eastern 
Africa for its copper and salt. Arab caravans come from Lake 
Tanganyika in the north for copper to supply the markets of 
Uganda, the country in which Bishop Hannington was murdered. 
I found that these Arabs made good use of their time at 
Katanga in promulgating infamous stories about the English. 
They were, I was told, most assiduous in their efforts to poison 
the mind of Msidi against me in particular, when they heard of 
my coming. After listening to a long harangue from them, 
however, he quickly replied, I am sure I cannot answer your 
words. I do not know these English people. I certainly do not 
know this man who is now coming; but one thing I know — I 
kno7if you Arabs'' So he was prepared to ^ suspend judgment 
concerning me from his knowledge of the men who were seeking 
to prejudice him against me. 
DECLARE MY OBJECT IN COMING. 
I had soon several interviews with Msidi, and was able by 
degrees to make known to him, in the Umbundu dialect, which he 
