He Was Evidently Reveling
In The Abundance Of Good Food The Chief's Orders Brought Us;
And He Did Not Feel The Shame I Did When I Gave A Few Beads Only
In Return For Large Baskets Of Meal.
A very old man visited us here with a present of maize:
Like the others,
he had never before seen a white man, and, when conversing with him,
some of the young men remarked that they were the true ancients,
for they had now seen more wonderful things than their forefathers.
One of Intemese's men stole a fowl given me by a lady of the village.
When charged with the theft, every one of Intemese's party
vociferated his innocence and indignation at being suspected,
continuing their loud asseverations and gesticulations for some minutes.
One of my men, Loyanke, went off to the village, brought the lady
who had presented the fowl to identify it, and then pointed to the hut
in which it was hidden. The Balonda collected round him,
evincing great wrath; but Loyanke seized his battle-axe
in the proper manner for striking, and, placing himself on a little hillock,
soon made them moderate their tones. Intemese then called on me
to send one of my people to search the huts if I suspected his people.
The man sent soon found it, and brought it out, to the confusion of Intemese
and the laughter of our party. This incident is mentioned
to show that the greater superstition which exists here
does not lead to the practice of the virtues. We never met
an instance like this of theft from a white man among the Makololo,
though they complain of the Makalaka as addicted to pilfering.
The honesty of the Bakwains has been already noticed. Probably the estimation
in which I was held as a public benefactor, in which character
I was not yet known to the Balonda, may account for the sacredness
with which my property was always treated before. But other incidents
which happened subsequently showed, as well as this, that idolaters
are not so virtuous as those who have no idols.
As the people on the banks of the Leeba were the last of Shinte's tribe
over which Intemese had power, he was naturally anxious to remain as long
as possible. He was not idle, but made a large wooden mortar and pestle for
his wife during our journey. He also carved many wooden spoons and a bowl;
then commenced a basket; but as what he considered good living
was any thing but agreeable to us, who had been accustomed to milk and maize,
we went forward on the 2d without him. He soon followed, but left
our pontoon, saying it would be brought by the head man of the village.
This was a great loss, as we afterward found; it remained at this village
more than a year, and when we returned a mouse had eaten a hole in it.
We entered on an extensive plain beyond the Leeba, at least twenty
miles broad, and covered with water, ankle deep in the shallowest parts.
We deviated somewhat from our N.W. course by the direction of Intemese,
and kept the hills Piri nearly on our right during a great part
of the first day, in order to avoid the still more deeply flooded plains
of Lobale (Luval?) on the west.
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