It Is, Perhaps, One Hundred Yards Broad,
And Was Winding Slowly From Side To Side In The Beautiful Green Glen,
In A Course To The North And Northeast.
In both the directions
from which it came and to which it went it seemed to be alternately
embowered
In sylvan vegetation, or rich meadows covered with tall grass.
The men pointed out its course, and said, "Though you sail along it
for months, you will turn without seeing the end of it."
While at the ford of the Kasai we were subjected to a trick, of which
we had been forewarned by the people of Shinte. A knife had been dropped
by one of Kangenke's people in order to entrap my men; it was put down
near our encampment, as if lost, the owner in the mean time watching
till one of my men picked it up. Nothing was said until our party
was divided, one half on this, and the other on that bank of the river.
Then the charge was made to me that one of my men had stolen a knife.
Certain of my people's honesty, I desired the man, who was making
a great noise, to search the luggage for it; the unlucky lad
who had taken the bait then came forward and confessed that he had the knife
in a basket, which was already taken over the river. When it was returned,
the owner would not receive it back unless accompanied with a fine.
The lad offered beads, but these were refused with scorn.
A shell hanging round his neck, similar to that which Shinte had given me,
was the object demanded, and the victim of the trick, as we all knew it to be,
was obliged to part with his costly ornament.
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