312 
THE FIGHT AVERTED 
quite unprepared for this exhibition, but behaved with 
admirable coolness. The chief and counsellors, by accept- 
big my invitation to bo seated, had placed themselves in » 
trap, for my men very quietly surrounded them, and made 
them feel that there was no chance of escaping their spears. 
I then said that, as one thing after another had failed to 
satisfy them, it was evident that they wanted to fight, while 
we only wanted to pass peaceably through the couutry; 
that they must begin first, and bear the guilt before God 
wo would not fight till thoy had struck the first blow. I 
then sat silent for some time. It was rather trying for 
me, because I knew that the Chiboque would aim at the 
white man first; but I was careful not to appear flurried, 
and, having four barrels rcaay for instant action, lookod 
quietly at the savage scene around. The Chiboque coun- 
tenance, by no means handsome, is not improved by the 
practice which they have adopted of filing the teeth to a 
point. The chief and counsellors, seeing that they were 
in more danger than I, did not choose to follow our decision 
that they should begin by striking tho first blow and then 
see what we could do, and were perhaps influenced by 
seeing tho air of cool preparation which somo of my men 
displayed at the prospect of a work of blood. 
The Chiboquo at last put the matter before us in this 
way : — “ Yon come among us in a new way, and say you 
are quite friendly : how can wo know it unless you give us 
some of your food, and you take some of ours ? If you 
give us an ox, wo will give you whatever you may wish, 
and then wo shall be friends.” In accordance with tbe 
entreaties of my men, I gave an ox, and, when asked wlmt 
I should liko in return, mentioned food as the thing which 
we most noeded. In tho evening, Njambi sent us a very 
small basket < >f meal, and two or threo pounds of tho flesh 
of our own ox! with the apology that he had no fowls, 
and very little of any other food. It was impossible to 
avoid a laugh at the coolness of the generous creatures. I 
was truly thankful, nevertheless, that, though resolved to 
