300 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
but although. Pit and Theunissen were on the watch, 
they could not prevent one of the fellows stealing a 
knife that was lying close to my side ; but I caught 
sight of him just in time, and insisted upon his giving 
it up again. 
After a brief consultation, the two captains drew their 
followers apart, and made them acquainted with my 
determination ; they all grinned cunningly, and hailed 
the proposal with shouts of satisfaction. Having had 
the whole body collected right in front of the waggon, 
where I could keep my eye upon them, I called the 
leaders forward and handed to each of them a bowl of 
gunpowder and about two pounds of lead. One of them 
first pointed to my pocket-handkerchief, and then ran 
his finger round his -own loins. “ Lapiana ! ” he said, 
indicating the purpose to which it could be applied. 
Accordingly I brought out a few yards of calico, and 
tore it into strips, which were immediately used for 
girdles, except that a few of the men twisted the stuff 
round their heads. They requested me to give the 
captains an extra piece or two ; to this I willingly 
consented, and they all expressed themselves perfectly 
satisfied. Upon this I turned my back upon the 
clamorous troop, and retreated calmly to my own people. 
Soon afterwards they all began slowly to depart, waving 
their presents over their heads. We were greatly re¬ 
lieved. The hour that had passed since Meriko had 
come and announced their approach had unquestionably 
been an anxious time. A few of them had bartered salt 
with Theunissen for tobacco. 
When Meriko could be induced to quit his hiding- 
place, he informed us that we had now almost reached 
the bank of the principal feeder of the Soa, called the 
Nata, where salt may be most readily procured, and 
whither the Matabele are sent by their rulers every year 
to collect it. This was the ostensible employment of 
the gang that had just taken their departure. The 
Bamangwato king was quite aware of the marauding 
habits of these parties, but did nothing to control them, 
although they perpetually disarm any Bamangwatos 
