390 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
being discovered in my hut. On two occasions after 
listening a little they made haste to get out, but returned 
bringing in a gourd of pombe, most of which the 
younger lady imbibed herself, and with evident gusto, 
for she would smack her lips heartily after every copious 
draught; and then continued her conversation in a 
manner which seemed to show that she was intent upon 
weighing every syllable she uttered. 
In whispered tones she continued to talk for hours, 
constantly repeating the name Chikuse with impressive 
awe, while she shook her head and drew deep sighs. I, 
of course, could not understand a single word she said, 
whether she was warning;, consoling;, or encouraging' me. 
But there was something very discomforting in her 
manner, for after placing great stress upon some words 
she would sigh heavily, ever and anon turning to her 
old companion evidently for a verification of what she 
was telling me. Seeing that she came in the night to 
whisper about the king, I inferred that mischief was 
brewing, but I continued to nod assent at the end of 
her long sentences, until the strange visitors took their 
departure. 
With the first faint flush of the morning light the air 
O O 
was rent with wild shouts and cries from an assemblage 
of men and women, the voices of the latter mingling 
shrilly with the hoarse roar of their smoke-inhaling hus¬ 
bands and brothers, a combination which gave a doleful 
tone to the mournful morning chant. 
I knew well what that meant, for I had often heard it 
before. They were wailers who in lamentation cried for 
one who was gone. The weird song of woe was kept up 
until the sun stood high in the heavens, and then it died 
slowly away. 
Afterwards a long line of people could be seen filing 
out of the town, and near to the leaders were two men 
who bore suspended between them the dead body of a 
woman, wrapped in the cane mat upon which she was 
accustomed to sleep. There was no wailing on the line 
of march. All was silent. The hut from whence the 
body was taken was adjacent to mine, and on the return 
