446 
SKIEMISH IN A FOEEST. 
Chap. XXII. 
cliiefs. One of the opposite party coming too near, one of mine 
drove him back with a battle-axe. The enemy protested tlieh 
amicable intentions, and my men asserted the fact of having the 
goods knocked down as evidence of the contrary. Without waiting 
long, I requested aU to sit down, and Pitsane, placing his hand 
upon the revolver, somewhat allayed their fears, I then said to 
the chief, “ If you have come with peaceable intentions, we have 
no other; go away home to your village,” He rephed, “ I am 
afraid lest you shoot me in the back.” I rejoined, “ If I wanted 
to kill you, I could shoot you in the face as well.” Mosantu 
called out to me, “ That’s only a Makalaka trick; don’t give him 
your back.” But I said, ‘‘Tell liim to observe that I am not 
afraid of liimand, turning, mounted my ox. There was not 
much danger in the fire that was opened at first, there being so 
many trees. The enemy probably expected that the sudden 
attack would make us forsake our goods, and allow them to 
plunder with ease. The villagers were no doubt pleased with 
being allowed to rethe unscathed, and we were also glad to get 
away without having shed a drop of blood, or having compro¬ 
mised ourselves for any future visit. My men were delighted with 
their own bravery, and made the woods ring with telling each 
other how “brilliant their conduct before the enemy” would 
have been, had hostilities not been brought to a sudden close. 
I do not mention tliis httle sldrmish as a very frightful affair. 
The negro character in these parts, and in Angola, is essentially 
cowardly, except when mfiuenced by success. A partial triumph 
over any body of men would induce the whole country to rise in 
arms, and this is the chief danger to be feared. These petty 
chiefs have individually but Little power, and with my men, now 
armed with guns, I could have easily beaten them off singly; but, 
being of the same family, they would readily unite in vast 
numbers, if incited by prospects of successful plunder. They are 
by no means equal to the Cape Caffres in any respect whatever. 
In the evening we came to Moena Kikanje, and found liim a 
sensible man. He is the last of the Cliiboque chiefs in tliis 
direction, and is in alhance with Matiamvo, whose territory com¬ 
mences a short distance beyond. His vfilage is placed on the 
east bank of the Quilo, wliich is here twenty yards wide, and 
breast deep. 
