244 Wanderings in Eastern Africa. 
the world of whom doubtless they knew something, 
whose aim it was to deceive, by pretending to do that 
which is beyond all human power. We did not belong 
to this class. No mortal could do that which was pre- 
tended by these men ; they were liars and deceivers, 
enemies to God, and a curse to their fellow-men. We 
wished it to be distinctly understood that -we dis- 
avowed all sorcery and witchcraft, this being the 
work of the devil. We had come to instruct them in 
the Gospel, the word of the living and only true God. 
We could promise them nothing until they had learned 
to know and love God, but then we assured them they 
would be blessed indeed. It was written that they 
who honoured God are honoured by God. God cares 
for and protects those who put their trust in Him. 
This is what we had come to teach them : we wished 
to know if they would receive us as teachers of the 
Word of God. This is the substance of what was said. 
The deputation then returned to the conference. 
Palaver continued until three p.m., when our inter- 
preter informed us that the general feeling was against 
us, although Mara Barowat was strongly in our favour. 
Towards evening we enquired howmatters stood. Hire- 
baya shook his head at us and went off towards the 
boats. The company was by this time breaking up. 
Instructed by us Abajila now told them that the simple 
agreement had been made that we were to give them a 
certain amount of goods, and that in return they should 
show us their country. They had taken the goods, 
and we now demanded the fulfilment of their part of 
the contract, or the return of everything they had re- 
ceived from us. 
At length matters were compounded, and on the 
