834 
A GRAVE OFFENCE. 
Chap. XVIII. 
receiving messages from tlie great man, we were told that he 
wanted either a man, a tusk, beads, copper rings, or a shell, as 
payment for leave to pass through his country. No one, we 
were assured, wns allowed that liberty, or even to behold him, 
without something of the sort being presented. Having humbly 
explained our circumstances, and that he could not expect to 
‘‘ catch a humble cow by the horns,”—a proverb similar to ours 
that you can’t draw milk out of a stone ”—we were told to go 
home, and he would speak again to us next day. I could not 
avoid a hearty laugh at the cool impudence of the savage, and 
made the best of my way home in the still-pouring rain. My 
men were rather nettled at this want of hospitality, but, after 
talking over the matter with one of Katende’s servants, he pro¬ 
posed that some small article should be given, and an attempt 
made to please Katende. I turned out my shirts, and selected 
the worst one as a sop for him, and invited Katende to come and 
choose anything else I had, but added that, when I should reach 
my own chief naked, and was asked what I had done with my 
clothes, I should be obliged to confess that I had left them with 
Katende. The shirt was despatched to him, and some of my 
people went along with the servant; they soon returned, saying 
that the shirt had been accepted, and guides and food too would 
be sent to us next day. The chief had, moreover, expressed a 
hope to see me on my return. He is reported to be very cor¬ 
pulent. The traders who have come here seem to have been 
very timid, yielding to every demand made on the most frivolous 
pretences. One of my men, seeing another much like an ac¬ 
quaintance at home, addressed him by the name of the latter in 
sport, telling him at the same time why he did so ; this was 
pronounced to be a grave offence, and a large fine demanded; 
when the case came before me I could see no harm in what had 
been done, and told my people not to answer the young fellow. 
The latter felt himself disarmed, for it is chiefiy in a brawl they 
have power; then words are spoken in anger, which rouse the 
passions of the complainant’s friends. In this case, after voci¬ 
ferating some time, the would-be offended party came and said 
to my man, that, if they exchanged some small gift, all would be 
right, but, my man taking no notice of him, he went off rather 
crestfallen. 
