194 
CATTLE A FEAST. 
work. Neither could Katema’ s attention bo arrostod, 
except by compliments, of which they have always plenty 
to bestow as well as receive. We were strangers, and 
know that, as Malcololo, wo had not the best of characters; 
yet his treatment of us was wonderfully good and liberal. 
I complimented him on the possession of cattle, and 
ploasod him by telling him how he might milk tlio cows, 
lie has a herd of about thirty, really splendid animals, all 
reared from two which he brought from the Balobalo when 
ho was young. Thoy are generally of a white color, and 
aro quite wild, running off with graceful ease like a herd 
of elands on the approach of a Btranger. Thoy excited the 
unbounded admiration of the Makololo, and clearly proved 
that the country was well adapted for them. When Katema 
wishes to slaughter one, ho is obliged to shoot it as if it 
were a buffalo. Matiamvo is said to possess a herd of cattle 
in a similar state. 1 never could feel certain as to the 
reason why they do not all possess cattle in a country con- 
taining such splendid pasturage. 
As Katema did not offer an ox, as would have been done 
by a Makololo or Caffre chief, we slaughtered one of our 
own, and all of us were delighted to get a meal of moat, 
after subsisting so long on the light porridgo and green 
maize of Londa. On occasions of slaughtering an animal, 
some pieces of it are in the fire before the skin is all 
removed from the body. A frying-pan full of these piece* 
having been got quickly ready, my men crowded about 
their father, and I handed some all round. It was * 
strango sight to the Balonda, who wore looking on wonder 
ing. I offered portions to them too, but these were declined, 
though they are excessively fond of a little animal food to 
eat with their vegetable diet. They would not oat with u*» 
but they would take the meat and cook it in their o'# 0 
way, and then use it. I thought at one time that thoy 
imported something from the Mohammedans, and the mor* 
especially as an exclamatic a of surprise, “Allah I” sound* 
like the lllah of the Arabs; but we found, a little fartb® 1 
