887.] 
Stay in Garenganze. 
227 
MR. swan's notes — INTERVIEW WITH MSIDI. 
December 20th. — Msidi has sent us many kind messages and 
scores of loads of food. He is gathering his chiefs together for 
the time when he will formally receive his white visitors. 
— Visited Msidi, and found him surrounded by his head- 
men and counsellors. He sat under the verandah surrounding 
one of his wives' houses, and Molenga, his nephew, sat at a little 
distance from him. They both held out their hands, and as we 
shook hands they gave us a hearty welcome to their country. 
Msidi is undoubtedly the most powerful chief in this part of 
Central Africa, and his name is a terror in all the country through 
which we have passed. After greeting ceremonies were over, I 
told him we had come to his country in accordance with his 
invitation sent through our friend Mr. Arnot, and if he still 
wished it, we would stay, teach his people to read and write, 
and to understand the word of God. We thus sought to throw 
on him the responsibility of our being here. This is safest, and 
may be useful to refer to in the future. He said he was very 
glad we had come, and hoped we should hke his country. 
In interpreting my words to his people, he said we had come 
as teachers from God, to put them all right, give them all the 
wisdom of books, and to heal all the sick people in his country. 
"Yes," he said, "in a short time there will be no more sick 
people here, for they have brought lots of medicines." He is a 
short, stout man, with a fine head, and has a very cunning mind. 
He seems to be much attached to Mr. Arnot, and says he will 
accompany him when he returns to England ; but this is only 
talk. 
27//^. — Br. Arnot visited Msidi, and asked when it would be 
convenient for us to have another interview with him, as we had 
brought him a present of cloth. He said he did not want any 
present ; the white men had come to their own country, and all 
was settled. " However," said he, "if you like you may give my 
two head wives a small present." This was only another way of 
accepting the present ; for all that his wives have is hi^. 
22>th. — Visited the king again, and found him seated between 
his two head wives (both mulattoes). We had a pleasant chat 
together, and amused him by answering all his questions con- 
