248 Seven Years in Central Africa. [May, 
men are pouring in and going on to the fray from all 
directions. Her ladyship's litter has come back to her town ; 
so she means to fight like the ancient heroes who burned their 
bridges behind them. 
14//;, midnight. — A messenger from Nana Kandundu calls me 
and my men to her aid. Five camps of Ovimbundu have 
gathered round me, mustering in all four or five hundred. I 
declare neutrality, but promise to protect her ladyship's person, 
should she be worsted and come to my camp. She has done 
well in going out to protect the down-trodden Lunda tribes 
along the Upper Zambesi, upon whom Kangombe has long been 
preying. She effectually demonstrates the superior humanity of 
female government, and I hope to welcome her victorious return. 
NANA VICTORIOUS. 
April 20th. — Nana returned safely. It seems that after one 
sharp fight Kangombe fled under cover of the darkness. 
A chief's honesty. 
Baho, near Katema^ May isf. — -We were detained here some 
days. A gun belonging to one of Cinyama's men was stolen 
from camp. The chief promised to recover it for us. After some 
days' delay the thief was tracked, caught, and both thief and 
gun were presented to Cinyama's man. For this remarkable 
piece of honesty the chief of Baho demanded a handsome 
present. I assured him that it would sufiice to restore the gun, 
and that the thief might be allowed to go back to his village with 
a suitable warning. This proposal did not at all please the chief 
He wanted a fancy-coloured blanket, some cast-off clothing, 
or something else that really would be of more value to him 
than this old gun, or the man who had stolen it. After four 
days' delay and trouble we marched off, leaving the gun in 
the hands of the chief, his court-fees being so exorbitant that we 
could not possibly accept his decision. 
A CARAVAN PLUNDERED. 
In travelling along we heard reports of the plundering of 
a caravan that had gone out some months before, carrying 
letters from Mr. Swan and myself. Upon reaching the Lumese 
