Chap. XVII. 
PEESENTATION TO KATEMA. 
319 
was a man, and would be judged, in company witli those he 
destroyed, by a Lord who is no respecter of persons ? the am¬ 
bassador replied, ‘‘ We do not go up to God, as you do; we are 
put into the ground.” I could not ascertain that even those who 
have such a distinct perception of the continued existence of de¬ 
parted spirits, had any notion of heaven; they appear to imagine 
the souls to be always near the place of sepulture. 
After crossing the river Lotembwa we travelled about eight 
miles, and came to Katema’s straggling town (lat. 11° 35' 49" S., 
long. 22° 27' E.). It is more a collection of villages than a town. 
We were led out about half a mile from the houses, that we might 
make for ourselves the best lodging we could of the trees and 
grass, while Intemese was taken to Katema to undergo the usual 
process of pumping, as to oirr past conduct and professions. Ka- 
tema soon afterwards sent a handsome present of food. 
Next morning we had a formal presentation, and found Katema 
seated on a sort of throne, with about three hundred men on the 
ground around, and thirty women, who were said to be his wives, 
close behind him. The main body of the people were seated in 
a semicircle, at a distance of fifty yards. Each party had its 
own head man stationed at a little distance in front, and, when 
beckoned by the chief, came near him as councillors. Intemese 
gave our history, and Katema placed sixteen large baskets of 
meal before us, half a dozen fowls, and a dozen eggs, and ex¬ 
pressed regret that we had slept hungry—he did not like any 
stranger to suffer want in his town; and added, Go home, and 
cook and eat, and you wiU then be in a fit state to speak to me, 
at an audience I will give you to-morrow.” He was busily en¬ 
gaged in hearing the statements of a large body of fine young 
men who had fled from Kangenke, chief of Lobale, on account 
of his selling their relatives to the native Portuguese who fre¬ 
quent his country. Katema is a tall man, about forty years of 
age, and his head was ornamented with a helmet of beads and 
feathers. He had on a snuff-brown coat, with a broad band of 
tinsel down the arms, and carried in his hand a large tail made 
of the caudal extremities of a number of gnus. This has charms 
attached to it, and he continued waving it in front of himself, all 
the time we were there. He seemed in good spirits, laughing 
heartily several times. This is a good sign, for a man who shakes 
