Chap. XVI. 
FAREWELL TO SHINTE. 
301 
see the extravagance of which he was about to be guilty, he 
drew out from his clothing a string of beads, and the end of a 
conical shell, which is considered, in regions far from the sea, of 
as great value as the Lord Mayor’s badge is in London. He 
hung it round my neck, and said, There, now you have a proof 
of my friendship.” 
My men informed me, that these shells are so highly valued 
in this quarter, as evidences of distinction, that for two of 
them a slave might be bought, and five would be considered a 
handsome price for an elephant’s tusk worth ten pounds. At 
om' last interview old Shinte pointed out our principal guide, 
Intemese, a man about fifty, who was, he said, ordered to remain 
by us till we should reach the sea; that I had now left Sekeletu 
far behind, and must henceforth look to Shinte alone for aid, 
and that it would always be most cheerfully rendered. This 
was only a polite way of expressing his wishes for my success. 
It was the good words only of the guides which were to aid me 
from the next chief, Katema, on to the sea; they were to ton 
back on reaching him, but he gave a good supply of food for the 
journey before us, and, after mentioning as a reason for letting 
us go even now, that no one could say we had been driven away 
from the town, since we had been several days with him, he gave 
a most hearty salutation, and we parted with the wish that God 
might bless him. 
