CROSSING THE ZAMBESI. 
388 
tion, and said, “Ah ! if you only know him as well as we 
do who have lived with him, you would understand that 
ho highly values your friendship and that of Mburuma, 
and, as ho is a strangor, he trusts iu you to direct him.” 
Ho replied, “Well, ho ought to cross to tho other side 
of tho river, for this bank is hilly and rough, and tho way 
to Tote is longer on this than on tho opposite hank.” 
“ But who will take us across if you do not ?” “ Truly,” 
replied Mpondo, “ I only wish you had como sooner to tell 
mo about him ; but you shall cross ” Mpondo said fre- 
quently ho was sorry he had not known mo soonor, but 
that ho had been prevented by his enchanter from coming 
near mo ; and ho lamontod that the same porson had kopt 
him from eating tho moat which I had presented. Ho did 
every thing ho could afterward to aid us on our courso, 
and our departure was as different as possible from our 
approach to his villago. I was very much pleased to find 
tho English name spoken of with such great respect so 
far from tho coast, and most thankful that no collision 
occurred to damage its influence. 
2-k/i. — Mpende sent two of his principal men to order tho 
pooplo of a largo island below to ferry us across. Tho river 
is very broad, and, though my men were well acquainted 
with tho management of canoes, wo could not all cross over 
before dark. It is 1200 yards from bank to bank, and be- 
tween 700 and 800 of deep water, flowing at tho rato of 
SJ miles per hour. Wo landed first on an island, then, to 
prevent our friends playing false with us, haulod tho 
canoes up to our bivouac and slept in them. Tho next 
morning wo all reached tho opposite bank in safety. 
29th . — I was most sincerely thankful to find myself on 
the south bank of tho Zambesi ; and, having nothing else, I 
sent back one of my two spoons and a shirt as a thank- 
offering to Mpende. Tho different head-men along ibis 
river act very much in concort, and if one refuses passage 
they all do, uttering tho sago remark, “ If so-and-so did not 
lend his canoes, ho must have had somo good reason.” The 
