Chap. XYI. 
MANENKO’S AVHIMS. 
287 
not, &c., I learned that the Balonda, and even the Barotse, 
believe that divination may be performed by means of these 
blocks of wood and clay ; and though the wood itself could not 
hear, the owners had medicines by which it could be made to- 
hear and give responses ; so that if an enemy were approaching 
they would have full information. Manenko having brought us 
to a stand, on account of slight indisposition and a desu-e to send 
forward notice of our approach to her uncle, I asked why it was 
necessary to send forward information of our movements, if 
Shinte had idols who could tell him everything ? ‘‘ She did it 
only,'’ * was the reply. It is seldom of much use to show one 
who worships idols the folly of idolatry, without giving something 
else as an object of adoration instead. They do not love them. 
They fear them, and betake themselves to their idols only when 
in perplexity and danger. 
Whilst delayed, by Manenko’s management, among the Ba¬ 
londa villages, a little to the south of the town of Shinte, we 
were well supplied by the villagers wdth sweet potatoes and 
green maize; Sambanza went to his mother’s village for sup¬ 
plies of other food. I was labouring under fever, and did not 
find it very difficult to exercise patience with her whims ; but it 
being Saturday, I thought we might as well go to the town for 
Sunday (15th.) “No; her messenger must return from her 
uncle first.” Being sure that the answer of the uncle would be 
favourable, I thought we might go on at once, and not lose two 
days in the same spot. “ No, it is our customand everything 
else I could urge was answered in the genuine pertinacious lady 
style. She ground some meal for me with her own hands, and, 
when she brought it, told me she had actually gone to a village 
and begged corn for the purpose. She said this with an air as 
if the inference must be drawn by even a stupid white man: 
“ I know how to manage, don’t I ? ” It was refreshing to get 
food which could be eaten without producing the unpleasantness 
described by the Eev. John Newton, of St. Mary’s, Woolnoth, 
London, when obliged to eat the same roots while a slave in tfie 
West Indies. The day (January 14th) for a wonder was fair, and 
* This is a curious African idiom, hy which a person implies he had no 
particular reason for his act. 
