INDALA THE MAGICIAN 
245 
His prestige amongst them was gone for ever. However, 
mindful of our first principles not to fight unless in actual 
danger of life, I preached forbearance in words, although nothing 
would have pleased me better than to join in any row once 
fairly started. 
There was a strong motive underlying Intuhe’s action, which, 
although we only learned the truth months later, it is fitting 
should be here explained. 
It appears that Indala and his forefathers claimed to be 
wizards who had complete power over the fates of the Cubango 
river, and could at will cause the stream to dry up, or become 
poisonous, as they pleased; and, on the strength of this belief, he 
imposed heavy tribute on the superstitious people living on the 
river's course below, most important among whom were the lake 
people, who, while having the greatest contempt for the Mombo- 
kooshus as fighting men, dare not risk their displeasure, which 
threatened such heavy penalties. 
Indala, exploiting this fear to the full, rode the high horse 
over these foolish people, who, to keep on the right side of 
the magician, annually despatched corn, ivory, feathers, and 
the most beautiful maidens of their tribe, to soothe the temper 
of this impostor. Not a bad position for Mr. Indala! We half- 
expected that the violence done to Libebe would lead to serious 
consequences; but although we held ourselves ready for emer¬ 
gencies, nothing further came of it. 
We felt somewhat dissatisfied because Intuhe expressed the 
determination that no other road but the one to the lake 
should be open to us, and would not discuss further any 
probabilities or possibilities of our reaching the West Coast, 
even by Walfish bay. He seemed to have made up his mind 
that we should go to the lake, and only on this condition 
would he lend us guides or give us advice. However, as we 
had made up our minds that this was the best course for us to 
pursue, it mattered little, for, as before mentioned, even here 
we were passing through unexplored regions. 
The events of this day convinced us that the Darico tale 
