A GRAVE OFFENCE. 
205 
his spear told that wo could not hope to enjoy any largor 
gamo. Wo saw no evidence of any animals besides; and, 
on coming to the villages boyond this, wo often saw boys 
and girls engaged in digging up these tiny quadrupeds. 
Katondo sent for mo on the day following our arrival, 
and, being quite willing to visit him, I walked, for this 
purposo, about three miles from our encampment. W hon we 
approached the villago wo were desired to enter a hut, and, as 
it was raining at the time, wo did so. After a long time spent 
in giving and receiving messages from the great man, wo were 
told that ho wanted cither a man, a tusk, beads, coppor rings, 
nr a shell, as payment for leavo to pass through his country. 
No ono, wo wore assured, was allowed that liberty^ or oven 
to behold him, without something of the sort being pre- 
sented. Having humbly explained our circumstances, and 
that ho could not expect to “catch an humble cow by the 
horns,” — a provorb similar to ours that “you can’t draw 
milk out of a stono,” — wo were told to go home, and ho 
would speak again to us noxt day. 1 could not avoid a 
hearty laugh at tho cool impudence of the savage, and 
made tho best of my T way homo in tho still pouring rain. 
My men wero rather nettled at this want of hospitality; 
but, after talking over tho matter with ono of Katcndo s 
servants, ho proposed that some small article should bo 
given, and an attempt made to please Katcndo. I turned 
°ut my shirts, and selectod tho worst one as a sop for him, 
®nd invited Katcndo to come and chooso any T thing olso I 
hud, but added that, whon I should reach my' own chief 
Baked, and was asked what I had dono with my clothes, 1 
•hould bo obliged to confess that I had loft them with 
Katcndo. Tho shirt was despatched to him, and some of 
•By pooplo went along with tho servant • they soon returned, 
saying that tho shirt had been accepted, and guidos and 
f°od too would bo sent to us noxt day. Tho chief had, 
moroover, expressed a hopo to see mo on my return. He 
18 reported to bo very corpulent. Tho traders who have 
001110 boro seem to have oeer. very timid, yielding every 
is 
