174 
PRIVATE INTERVIEW WITH SHINTE. 
which wore wovon rods, all very neat and high. Hiuiy 
trees stood within the enclosure and afforded a gratoful 
shade. Those had been planted, for we saw some recently 
put in, with grass wound round the trunk to protect them 
from tho sun. Tho otherwise waste corners of the streets 
were planted with sugarcano and bananas, which spread 
their largo light loaves over tho walls. 
Tho Ficus Indica tree, under which wo now sat, had 
rory largo loaves, but showed its relationship to tho Indian 
banian by sending down shoots toward tho ground. Shinto 
soon came, and appeared a man of upward of fifty-fivo 
years of ago, of frank and open countenance, and about 
tho middlo height. Ho seemed in good humor, and said be 
had expected yesterday “ that a man who camo from the 
gods would havo approached and talked to him.” That 
had been my own intention in going to tho reception ; but 
when wo camo and saw tho formidable preparations, and 
all his own men keeping at least forty yards off from him, 
I yielded to tho solicitations of my men, and remainod by 
tho treo opposite to that under which ho sat. His remark 
confirmed my previous belief that a frank, open, fearless 
manner is tho most winning with all theso Africans. I 
stated tho objoct of my journey’ and mission, and to all I 
advanced the old gentleman clapped his bands in approba- 
tion. Ho replied through a spokesman; then all tho com- 
pany joined in tho responso by r clapping of hands too. 
Aftor tho moro serious business was over, I asked 
if ho had ever scon a whito man before. Ho replied, 
“ Never: you aro tho very first I havo scon with a white 
•kin and straight hair : your clothing, too, is different from 
any wo havo ever soon.” They had "been visitod by native 
Portuguese and Mambari only. 
On learning from somo of tho peoplo that “Shinto’* 
mouth was bitter for want of tasting ox-flesh,” I presented 
him with an ox, to his great delight; and, as his country 
is so woll adapted for cattlo, I advised him to begin a trade 
in cows with tho Makololo. He was pleasod with tho idea. 
