A MOVE TO MABANU. 
253 
the welcome present of a large fat goat, which was 
immediately killed, cut up and distributed among my 
hungry followers, a nice loin-chop and kidneys being 
cooked for me. 
The next morning the worthy mother of the reign¬ 
ing chief sent me a bowl of delicious fresh milk, and I 
received also many visits on the part of the local 
notables, but had to dismiss them while my toilet was 
being performed, though this brought little privacy, 
as many shoved their heads under the skirting of the 
tent and watched me take my bath with intense inte¬ 
rest. As soon as I had dressed I set the men to 
work to cut branches and make a necessary fence 
round the tent and kitchen—otherwise the crowd of 
natives would have invaded every corner. Then I 
went on my walks abroad to see Maranu in the fresh 
morning air, and pay various visits of ceremony. First, 
I repaired to the Sultan’s mother to thank her heartily 
for sending gifts of meat and milk. This lady received 
me in a spacious compound under a kind of open shed, 
with seats placed all round, and a handsome white 
ox-hide neatly stretched over the floor within. The 
Sultan’s mother took me by both hands, and looked 
hard into my eyes. This ordeal I was instructed 
(sotto voce by Kiongwe) to bear without flinching, and 
on no account to avoid the Sultana’s gaze. Conse¬ 
quently I glared at her so fixedly that she was forced 
to lower her eyes, upon which she turned to her 
attendants and declared she approved of me thoroughly. 
Then I was desired to seat myself by her side on the 
white ox-skin. I did so. A brief and embarrassed 
silence followed, broken by the queen-mother, who ex¬ 
pressed to Kiongwe somewhat hesitatingly that she 
greatly desired to see the colour of my legs. On 
