350 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
the well, constrained her to evade for a long time his 
eager inquiries. But she could not retain the secret 
long, and so, in spite of all her awe for the Muzimu of 
the well, and her dread of her husband’s wrath, she at 
last promised to disclose the mystery. 
“Now one day the husband had to undertake a 
journey to Uvinza, but before departure he strictly 
enjoined his wife to look after his house and effects, and 
to remember to be silent about the fountain, and by no 
means to admit strangers, or to go a-gadding with her 
neighbours, while he was absent. The wife of course 
promised to obey, but her husband had been gone only 
a few hours when she went to her lover and said, ‘ tyly 
husband is gone away to Uvinza, and will not be back 
for many days. You have often asked me whence I 
obtained that delicious meat we ate together. Come 
with me, and I will show you.’ 
“ Her lover gladly accompanied her, and they went 
into the house, and the wife feasted him with Zogga 
(palm wine) and Maramba (plantain wine), Ugali por- 
ridge made of Indian corn, and palm-oil, seasoned with 
pepper— and an abundance of fish meat. 
“ Then when they had eaten the man said, £ We have 
eaten and drunk, and we are now full. Now pray show 
me whence you obtain this wondrous white meat that I 
have eaten, and which is far sweeter than the flesh of 
kid or lamb or fowl.’ 
“ ‘ I will,’ said she, £ because I have promised to you 
to do so, and I love you dearly ; but it is a great secret, 
and my husband has strictly warned me not to show it 
to any human being not related to the family. There- 
fore you, my love, must not divulge the secret, or 
betray me, lest some great evil happen to me and to 
us all.’ 
“ £ Nay, have no fear of me ; my mouth shall be 
closed, and my tongue tied, lest danger should happen 
to the mistress of my heart.’ 1 
“ So they arose, and she took him to the enclosure, 
jealously surrounded by a tall thick fence of matete' 
cane, and taking hold of his hand she led the impatient 
