VEXATIOUS TRICK. 
203 
this morning, so wo went briskly on a shirt distance, and 
came to a part of the Kasye, Kasai, or Loke, whoro he 
had appointed two canoes to convoy us across. This is a 
most beautiful river, and very much like the Clyde in Scot- 
land. The slopo of the valley down to the stream is about 
five hundred yards, and finely wooded. It is perhaps 
one hundred yards broad, and was winding slowly from 
side to side in the beautiful green glen, in a course to the 
north and northeast. In both the directions from which 
it came and to which it went it seemed to be alternately 
embowered in sylvan vegetation or rich meadows covered 
with tall grass. The men pointed out its course, and said 
“ Though you sail along it for months, you will turn with 
out seeing the end of it.” 
While at the ford of the Kasai we were subjected to a 
trick, of which we had been forewarned by the people «»f 
Shinte. A knife had been dropped by one of Kangenke's 
people, in order to entrap my men ; it was put down near 
our encampment, as if lost, the owner in the mean time 
watching till one of my men picked it up. Nothing was 
*aid until our party was divided, one half on this and tho 
other on that bank of the river. Then the charge was 
made to me that one of my men had stolen a knifo. 
Certain of my people’s honesty, I desired the man, who 
was making a great noiso, to search the luggage for it ; 
the unlucky lad who had takon the bait then came forward 
and confessed that he had the knife in a basket which was 
already taken over tho river. When it was returned, the 
owner would not receivo it back unless accompanied with 
a fine. The lad offered beads, but those were refused with 
•Horn. A shell hanging round his neck, similar to that 
Which Shinto had given me, was the object demanded, and 
the victim of the trick, as we all knew it to be, was obliged 
tc part with his costly ornament. I could not save him 
from the loss, as all had been forewarned; and it is tho 
universal custom among the Makololo and many other 
tribes to show whatever they may find to the chief person 
