592 
A FIGHT ANTICIPATED. 
Chap. XXIX. 
some bright red substance towards us. They then lighted a fire 
with charms in it, and departed, uttering the same hideous 
screams as before. This was intended to render us powerless, and 
probably also to frighten us. Ever since dawn, parties of armed 
men have been seen collecting from all quarters, and numbers 
passed us wliile it was yet dark. Had we moved down the river 
at once, it would have been considered an indication of fear or 
defiance, and so would a retreat. I therefore resolved to wait, 
trusting in Him who has the hearts of aU men in His hands. 
They evidently intended to attack us, for no friendly message 
was sent; and when three of the Batoka the night before entered 
the village to beg food, a man went round about each of them, 
making a noise like a lion. The villagers then called upon 
them to do homage, and, when they complied, the cliief ordered 
some chaff to be given them, as if it had been food. Other 
things also showed unmistakeable hostility. As we were now 
pretty certain of a skirmish, I ordered an ox to be slaugh¬ 
tered, as tins is a means which Sebituane employed for mspiring 
courage. I have no doubt that we should have been victorious; 
indeed, my men, who were far better acquainted with fighting 
than any of the people on the Zambesi, were rejoicing in the 
prospect of securing captives to carry the tusks for them. “We 
shall now,” said they, “get both corn and clothes in plenty.” 
They were in a sad state, poor fellows! for the rains we had 
encountered had made their skin-clothing drop off piecemeal, and 
they were looked upon with disgust by the well-fed and well- 
clothed Zambesians. They were, however, veterans in maraud¬ 
ing, and the head-men, instead of being depressed by fear, as the 
people of Mpende intended should be the case in using their 
charms, hinted broadly to me that I ought to allow them to 
keep Mpende’s wives. The roasting of meat went on fast and 
furious, and some of the young men said to me, “ You have seen 
us with elephants, but you don’t know yet what we can do with 
men.” I beheve that, had Mpende struck the first blow, he 
would soon have found out that he never made a greater mistake 
in his life. 
His whole tribe was assembled at about the distance of half 
a mile. As the country is covered with trees, we did not see 
them; but every now and then a few came about us as spies, 
