SUSPICIONS OP THE NATIVES. 37 ] 
we might yet be able to return with ease, and without 
mooting sour, suspicious looks. 
Mburuma sent two men as guides to the Loangwa. Those 
men triod to bring us to a stand, at a distance of about six 
miles from the village, by the notice, “Mburuma says you 
aro to sleep under that tree.” On declining to do this, wo 
were told that wo must wait at a certain villago for a sup- 
ply of corn. As none appeared in an hour, I proceeded on 
the march. It is not quite certain that their intentions 
were hostile; but this seemed to disarrange their plans, and 
one of them was soon observed running back to Mburuma. 
They had first of all tried to separate our party by volun- 
teering the loan of a canoe to convey Sckwcbu and mo, 
together with our luggage, by way of the river, and, as it 
was pressed upon us, I thought that this was their design 
Tho next attempt was to detain us in tho pass; but, be- 
traying no suspicion, wo civilly declined to place ourselves 
in their power in an unfavorable position. Wo afterward 
heard that a party of Babisa traders, who came from tho 
northeast, bringing English goods from Mozambique, had 
been plundered by this same people. 
At tho village of Ma Mburuma, (mother of Mburuma,) thf 
guides, who had again joined us, gave a favorablo report, 
and tho women and children did not flee. Ma Mburuma 
promised us canoos to cross tho Loangwa in our front. It 
was pleasant to see great numbers of men, womon, and 
boys come, without suspicion, to look at tho books, watch, 
looking-glass, revolver, &c. They arc a strong, muoculai 
race, and both men and women are soon cultivating the 
ground. 
Wo woro obliged to hurry along, for tho oxen wore bitten 
daily by tho tsetse, which, as I have beforo remarked, now 
inhabits extensivo tracts which once supported herds of 
cattle that woro swept off by Mpakauo and other marau- 
ders, whoso devastations were well known to Sekwobu, foi 
be himself had boon an actor in tho scenes. When ho told 
m ° of them ho always lowered his voice, in order that tb« 
