SEKELENKE’S PRESENT 
153 
gone with his villagers to hunt elephants on tlio right 
bank of tho Leoba, and was now on his way baok to 
Masiko. Ho sent me a dish of boiled zebra’s flesh, and a 
roqucst that I should lend him a canoo to ferry his wives 
and family across tho river to tho bank on which wo wore 
encamped. Many of Sekelonko’s peoplo came to salute the 
first white man they ever had an opportunity of soeing; 
but Sekolenke himself did not como near. Wo hoard ho 
was offended with some of his pooplo for letting mo know 
ho was among tho company. Ho said that I should be 
displeased with him for not coming and making somo pro 
sent. This was tho only instance in which I was shunned 
in this quartor. 
Sekolonko and his people, twenty-four in number, dofilod 
past our camp, carrying largo bundles of dried elephants’ 
moat. Most of them camo to say good-byo, and Sekolonko 
himself sent to say that ho had gone to visit a wife living 
in the village of Mancnko. It was a mere African manoeuvro 
to gain information, and not to commit himsolf to cither 
one lino of action or another with rospcct to our visit. As 
ho was probably in tho party before us, I replied that it 
was all right, and when my pooplo camo up from Masiko 
I would go to my wife too. 
To our first message offering a visit of explanation to 
Mancnko, wo got an answer, with a basket of manioc-roots, 
that we must remain whero wo wero till sho should visit 
us. Having waited two days already for her, other mes- 
sengers arrived with orders for mo to come to her. Aftei 
four days of rains and negotiation, I declined going at all, 
and proceeded up tho river to tho small stream Makondo, 
(lat. 13° 23' 12" S.,) which enters tho Leoba from tho oast, 
and is between twenty and thirty yards broad. 
January 1, 1854. — Wo had heavy rains alrrost everyday: 
indood, tho rainy season had fairly sot in. Baskets of tho 
purplo fruit called mawa were frequently brought to us by 
the villagors; not for sale, but from a belief that theii 
