154 
THE NEW AFRICA 
yards from the stream, and depositing our stuff, we sent our 
own boys to fetch the canoe loads to the camp. Child boldly 
swam the Liana—here about forty yards wide—and seized a 
canoe with the help of two of our other boys, and ferried the 
goods over to our side, while Jeluka’s men looked on in dis¬ 
contented silence. I watched proceedings through a telescope, 
ready to assist with a few bullets in case any violent dispute 
arose; but the natives, evidently surprised at our confidence, 
remained passive until the loads were safely in camp, and then 
went sullenly away. One thing was quite plain to our minds: 
that Jeluka’s men never expected us to arrive at the spot 
where they off-loaded the goods, and that it had never been 
intended that we should see them again. It was only by 
asserting ourselves and taking the lead up river, that we had 
overtaken the canoes thus opportunely; for it certainly was 
prearranged that we should be led out of the way by the 
guides, while they made off with the goods. 
We now held a consultation regarding our future moves, as 
things began to look uncomfortable. Firstly, our progress by 
means of carriers gathered along the route was much too slow 
to fit in with our views, therefore it was necessary that some 
new plan should be formulated and put into execution: and 
secondly, we had reason to mistrust the natives, who treated 
us, the first white men that ever travelled these parts, in a 
manner that caused us to be suspicious of their intentions. 
There was now no further doubt in our minds that, but for the 
regard the natives had for our superior shooting* they would 
rob us without hesitation. It was therefore decided that a 
strong circular skerm should be made, with a door that could 
be fastened inside, out of which no marauder could snatch 
things away unobserved; and that I should go on alone with 
five of our boys to Matambanja’s to see what kind of a fellow 
he was, and also to make arrangements for our further journey. 
We were both of opinion that as a good portion of the Chobe 
had now been surveyed, and we were only within reasonable 
distance of Serpa Pinto’s crossing-place on his journey from 
