THE BAROTSE COUNTRY. 
520 
it, all followed his example in copious draughts, without 
offering any to me, being informed that I drank only 
water. We conversed upon indifferent matters, and I 
understood that the time had not yet come to talk of my 
affairs. Among other subjects of conversation, we spoke 
about languages, and Lobossi requested me to say some¬ 
thing in Portuguese, that he might hear how it sounded. 
1 recited to him the Flores d’Alma out of the poem 
‘ D. Jay me/ and the negroes appeared delighted to listen 
HATAGJA. 
to the harmony of our language, which that great and 
charming poet Thomaz Ribeiro so admirably brings out 
in those remarkable verses. On my retiring, the King 
whispered in a tone which none could hear, that he 
should like to see me that night. Shortly after my 
arrival at my own house, Machauana called upon me, and 
I had a long talk with him about Livingstone. He left 
me with many professions of friendship. 
At 9 o’clock I repaired to the King’s residence. I 
found him in one of the inner jjateos, seated upon a stool, 
near a large fire burning in an earthen brazier, a couple 
of yards, at least, in diameter. Opposite him, in a serni- 
2 • M 
