370 
MBURUMA'S VILLAGE AND PEOPLE. 
told us that we were looked upon with alarm. He said 
that Siriatomba had been killed near the villago of Selole 
and hence that man’s fears. He added that the Italian had 
come talking of peaco, as we did, but had kidnapped chil- 
dren and bought ivory with them, and that wo were sup 
posed to bo following the same calling. I pointed to my 
men, and asked if any of these wore slaves, and if wo had 
any children among thorn, and I think wo satisfied him that 
wo were true men. Referring to our ill success in hunting 
the day before, he said, “The man at whose village you 
remained was in fault in allowing you to want meat, for ho 
had only to run across to Mburuma; ho would have givon 
him a little meal, and, having sprinkled that on the ground 
as an offering to the gods, you would have found your 
elephant.” The chiefs in these parts tako upon themselves 
an office somewhat like the priosthood, and the peoplo 
imagine that they can propitiate the Deity through them 
In illustration of their ideas, it may bo mentioned that, 
when wo were among the tribes west of Somalembuo, 
several of the people came forward and introduced them 
selves, — ono as a hunter of elephants, another as a hunter 
of hippopotami, a third as a digger of pitfalls, — apparently 
wishing mo to give them medicine for success in then 
avocations, as well as to cure the diseases of thoso to 
whom I was administering the drugs. I thought they at- 
tributed supernatural power to them, for, liko all Africans, 
they have unbounded faith in the efficacy of charms ; 
but I took pains to lot them know that they must pray 
and trust to another power than mine for aid. Wo novel 
saw Mburuma himself, and the conduct of his peoplo indi 
catod very strong suspicions, though ho gave us present* 
of meal, maize, and native com. His peoplo never came 
near us oxcept in large bodies and fully armod. Wo had 
to order them to placo their bows, arrows, and spears at 
a distanco before .altering our encampment. We did not, 
however, care much for a little trouble now, as wo hoped 
that, if wo could pass this time without much molestation 
