212 
Seven Years in Central Africa. 
[May, 
with such a white man, who would throw his own body between 
a lion and a black lad of no account." The young man who said 
this, is a nephew of the chief Kapoko, who told the carriers 1 had 
engaged at his villages two years ago, " not to go with this white 
man, as he was an Englishman, and would carry them all off to 
the other side of the continent and enslave them," the result 
of which advice was, that most of them left me. 
THE BA-NA-LUNDA. 
I spent over ten days among the Ba-na-lunda villages. Un- 
fortunately the people were all occupied with their crops, and 
most were encamped in the fields, driving away the birds by day 
from the ripe corn, and the game by night. I had a sort of 
running conversational meeting in my hut and yard while there, 
as all found time to pay me a visit, and I can converse a little 
both in the Seyek and Luba languages. The hunter was out 
all the time, but only shot one buffalo; still, we had enough. 
We returned by Kagoma's villages, where I rested a day. Last 
year I was able to relieve him of a disease from which he 
had long suffered, and on leaving this time he presented me with 
a bin of rice, equal to two large sacks. 
MSIDl'S KINDNESS. 
Two weary days' tramp across the flat brought me again to my 
comfortable house. On reaching the capital I met Msidi. He 
received me very warmly, and seeing I was very tired sent one of 
his wives to cook a dish of rice and honey for me. It was dark 
ere I reached my house. I found that in my absence Susi's 
father had died. Two months ago I brought him to my village, 
as he was far from well, and had no one to look after him. He 
recovered somewhat, but had a relapse, dying while I was away. 
This is the second death at my place within a month. The other 
was that of my pet boy Johnny. I felt it much, and do so still ; 
indeed, it was partly the cause of rny going off for a few weeks. 
Msidi paid me a visit shortly after my return, and was most 
agreeable ; indeed, he is a thorough gentleman. The other day 
he told one of his courtiers that he had one true friend, and that 
was Monare, for in his heart he did not find one single suspicion 
of me, and, strange to say, I feel very much the same towards 
