We Slept Four Miles Above Tette, And Hearing That
The Banyai, Who Levy Heavy Fines On The Portuguese Traders, Lived
Chiefly On The Right Bank, We Crossed Over To The Left, As We Could
Not Fully Trust Our Men.
If the Banyai had come in a threatening
manner, our followers might, perhaps, from having homes behind them,
have even put down their bundles and run.
Indeed, two of them at
this point made up their minds to go no further, and turned back to
Tette. Another, Monga, a Batoka, was much perplexed, and could not
make out what course to pursue, as he had, three years previously,
wounded Kanyata, the headman, with a spear. This is a capital
offence among the Makololo, and he was afraid of being put to death
for it on his return. He tried, in vain, to console himself with the
facts that he had neither father, mother, sisters, nor brothers to
mourn for him, and that he could die but once. He was good, and
would go up to the stars to Yesu, and therefore did not care for
death. In spite, however, of these reflections, he was much cast
down, until Kanyata assured him that he would never mention his
misdeed to the chief; indeed, he had never even mentioned it to the
Doctor, which he would assuredly have done had it lain heavy on his
heart. We were right glad of Monga's company, for he was a merry
good-tempered fellow, and his lithe manly figure had always been in
the front in danger; and, from being left-handed, had been easily
recognized in the fight with elephants.
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