Chap. XXYIII. 
OPINIONS OF THE GUIDES. 
583 
watcli, looking-glass, revolver, &c. They are a strong, muscular 
race, and both men and women are seen cultivating the ground. 
The soil contains so much comminuted talc and mica from the 
adjacent hills, that it seems as if mixed with spermaceti. They 
generally eat their corn only after it has begun to sprout from 
steeping it in water. The deformed lips of the women make 
them look very ugly; I never saw one smile. The people in 
this part seem to understand readily what is spoken about God, 
for they hsten with great attention, and tell in return their own 
ideas of departed spirits. The position of the village of 
Mburuma’s mother was one of great beauty, quite enclosed by 
high, steep hills; and the valleys are all occupied by gardens of 
native corn and maize, which grow luxuriantly. We were obhged 
to hurry along, for the oxen were bitten daily by the tsetse, 
which, as I have before remarked, now inhabits extensive tracts 
wliich once supported herds of cattle that were swept off by 
Mpakane and other marauders, whose devastations were well 
known to Sekwebu, for he himself had been an actor in the scenes. 
When he told me of them he always lowered liis voice, in order 
that the guides might not hear that he had been one of their 
enemies. But that we were looked upon with suspicion, on 
account of having come in the footsteps of mvaders, was evident 
from our guides remarking to men in the gardens tlnrough which 
we passed, “ They have words of peace—aU very fine; but hes 
only, as the Bazunga are great bars.” They thought we did not 
understand them, but Sekwebu knew every word perfectly, and, 
without paying any ostensible attention to these complimentary 
remarks, we always took care to explain ever afterwards that we 
were not Bazunga, but Makoa (English). 
