He Seemed Dumbfoundered, And Could Hardly Believe His Own
Eyes.
For a few seconds he was speechless, but at last recovered so
far as to be able to say, "You are passing Pangola.
Do you not see
Pangola?" Mbia was just going by at the time with the donkey, and,
proud of every opportunity of airing his small stock of English,
shouted in reply, "All right! then get on." "Click, click, click."
On the 26th June we breakfasted at Zumbo, on the left bank of the
Loangwa, near the ruins of some ancient Portuguese houses. The
Loangwa was too deep to be forded, and there were no canoes on our
side. Seeing two small ones on the opposite shore, near a few
recently erected huts of two half-castes from Tette, we halted for
the ferry-men to come over. From their movements it was evident that
they were in a state of rollicking drunkenness. Having a waterproof
cloak, which could be inflated into a tiny boat, we sent Mantlanyane
across in it. Three half-intoxicated slaves then brought us the
shaky canoes, which we lashed together and manned with our own canoe-
men. Five men were all that we could carry over at a time; and after
four trips had been made the slaves began to clamour for drink; not
receiving any, as we had none to give, they grew more insolent, and
declared that not another man should cross that day. Sininyane was
remonstrating with them, when a loaded musket was presented at him by
one of the trio.
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