第87章
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  ColonyofBirdscalledLinkololoTheVillageofChitlane

  MurderofMpololo’sDaughterExecutionoftheMurdererandhisWife

  MyCompanionsfindthattheirWiveshavemarriedotherHusbands

  SundayAPartyfromMasikoFreedomofSpeechCanoestruckbyaHippopotamusGonyeAppearanceofTreesattheendofWinter

  MurkyAtmosphereSurprisingAmountoforganicLife

  HornetsThePackagesforwardedbyMrMoffat

  MakololoSuspicionsandReplytotheMatebelewhobroughtthem

  ConveytheGoodstoanIslandandbuildaHutoverthemAscertainthatSirRMurchisonhadrecognizedthetrueFormofAfricanContinent

  ArrivalatLinyantiAgrandPichoShrewdInquiry

  SekeletuinhisUniformATrading-partysenttoLoandawithIvory

  MrGabriel’sKindnesstothemDifficultiesinTrading

  TwoMakololoForaysduringourAbsenceReportoftheCountrytotheN。E。

  DeathofinfluentialMenTheMakololodesiretobenearertheMarketOpinionsuponaChangeofResidenceClimateofBarotseValley

  DiseasesAuthor’sFeversnotafairCriterionintheMatter

  TheInterioraninvitingFieldforthePhilanthropistConsultationsaboutaPathtotheEastCoastDecideondescendingNorthBankofZambesi

  WaitfortheRainySeasonNativewayofspendingTimeduringtheperiodofgreatestHeatFavorableOpeningforMissionaryEnterprise

  BenHabibwishestomarryAMaiden’sChoiceSekeletu’sHospitality

  SulphuretedHydrogenandMalariaConversationswithMakololo

  TheirmoralCharacterandConductSekeletuwishestopurchaseaSugar-mill,etcTheDonkeysInfluenceamongtheNatives

  “FoodfitforaChief“PartingWordsofMamireMotibe’sExcuses。

  Onthe31stofJulywepartedwithourkindLibontafriends。

  Weplantedsomeofourpalm-treeseedsindifferentvillagesofthisvalley。

  Theybegantosproutevenwhilewewerethere,but,unfortunately,theywerealwaysdestroyedbythemicewhichswarmineveryhut。

  AtChitlane’svillagewecollectedtheyoungofacolonyofthelinkololo`Anastomuslamalligerus’,ablack,long-leggedbird,somewhatlargerthanacrow,whichlivesonshellfish`Ampullaria’,andbreedsinsocietyatcertainlocalitiesamongthereeds。

  Theseplacesarewellknown,astheycontinuetherefromyeartoyear,andbelongtothechiefs,whoatparticulartimesoftheyeargathermostoftheyoungTheproduceofthis“harvest“,astheycallit,whichwaspresentedtome,wasahundredandseventy-fiveunfledgedbirds。

  Theyhadbeenratherlateincollectingthem,inconsequenceofwaitingforthearrivalofMpololo,whoactsthepartofchief,butgavethemtome,knowingthatthiswouldbepleasingtohim,otherwisethiscolonywouldhaveyieldeddoubletheamountTheoldonesappearalongtheLeeambyeinvastflocks,andlookleanandscraggyTheyoungareveryfat,and,whenroasted,areesteemedoneofthedaintiesoftheBarotsevalley。

  Inpresentsofthiskind,aswellasofoxen,itisasortoffeastofjoy,thepersontowhomtheyarepresentedhavingthehonorofdistributingthematerialsofthefeastWegenerallyslaughteredeveryoxatthevillagewhereitwaspresented,andthenourfriendsandwerejoicedtogether。

  ThevillageofChitlaneissituated,likeallothersintheBarotsevalley,onaneminence,overwhichfloodsdonotrise;butthislastyearthewaterapproachednearertoanentiresubmergenceofthewholevalleythanhasbeenknowninthememoryofmanGreatnumbersofpeoplewerenowsufferingfromsickness,whichalwaysprevailswhenthewatersaredryingup,andIfoundmuchdemandforthemedicinesIhadbroughtfromLoandaThegreatvariationofthetemperatureeachdaymusthaveatryingeffectuponthehealthAtthisvillagethereisarealIndianbanian-tree,whichhasspreaditselfoveraconsiderablespacebymeansofrootsfromitsbranches;

  ithasbeentermed,inconsequence,“thetreewithlegs“moreoamaotu。

  Itiscuriousthattreesofthisfamilyarelookeduponwithveneration,andallthewayfromtheBarotsetoLoandaarethoughttobepreservativesfromevil。

  OnreachingNalieleonthe1stofAugustwefoundMpololoingreatafflictiononaccountofthedeathofhisdaughterandherchildShehadbeenlatelyconfined;andherfathernaturallyrememberedherwhenanoxwasslaughtered,orwhenthetributeofotherfood,whichhereceivesinlieuofSekeletu,cameinhisway,andsentfrequentpresentstoher。

  ThismovedtheenvyofoneoftheMakololowhohatedMpololo,and,wishingtovexhim,heenteredthedaughter’shutbynight,andstrangledbothherandherchildHethentriedtomakefireinthehutandburnit,sothatthemurdermightnotbeknown;butthesqueakingnoiseofrubbingthesticksawakenedaservant,andthemurdererwasdetected。

  Bothheandhiswifewerethrownintotheriver;thelatterhaving“knownofherhusband’sintentions,andnotrevealingthem。”Shedeclaredshehaddissuadedhimfromthecrime,and,hadanyoneinterposedaword,shemighthavebeenspared。

  Mpololoexertedhimselfineverywaytosupplyuswithothercanoes,andweleftShinte’swithhimTheMambowewerewellreceived,anddepartedwithfriendlymessagestotheirchiefMasiko。

  Mymenwereexceedinglydelightedwiththecordialreceptionwemetwitheverywhere;butasourceofannoyancewasfoundwhereitwasnotexpected。

  Manyoftheirwiveshadmarriedothermenduringourtwoyears’absence。

  Mashauana’swife,whohadbornehimtwochildren,wasamongthenumber。

  Hewishedtoappearnottofeelitmuch,saying,“Why,wivesareasplentifulasgrass,andIcangetanother:shemaygo;“

  buthewouldadd,“IfIhadthatfellow,Iwouldopenhisearsforhim。”

  Asmostofthemhadmorewivesthanone,ItriedtoconsolethembysayingthattheyhadstillmorethanIhad,andthattheyhadenoughyet;

  buttheyfeltthereflectiontobegalling,thatwhiletheyweretoiling,anotherhadbeendevouringtheircornSomeoftheirwivescamewithveryyounginfantsintheirarmsThisexcitednodiscontent;

  andforsomeIhadtospeaktothechieftoorderthemen,whohadmarriedtheonlywivessomeofmycompanionseverhad,torestorethem。

  SUNDAY,AUGUST5THAlargeaudiencelistenedmostattentivelytomymorningaddressSurelysomewillremembertheideasconveyed,andpraytoourmercifulFather,whowouldneverhavethoughtofHimbutforthisvisitTheinvariablykindandrespectfultreatmentIhavereceivedfromthese,andmanyotherheathentribesinthiscentralcountry,togetherwiththeattentiveobservationsofmanyyears,haveledmetothebeliefthat,ifoneexertshimselffortheirgood,hewillneverbeilltreatedTheremaybeoppositiontohisdoctrine,butnonetothemanhimself。

  WhilestillatNaliele,apartywhichhadbeensentaftermebyMasikoarrivedHewasmuchdisappointedbecauseIhadnotvisitedhim。

  Theybroughtanelephant’stusk,twocalabashesofhoney,twobasketsofmaize,andoneofground-nuts,asapresent。

  MasikowishedtosaythathehadfollowedtheinjunctionwhichIhadgivenasthewillofGod,andlivedinpeaceuntilhisbrotherLimboacame,capturedhiswomenastheywenttotheirgardens,andthenappearedbeforehisstockadeMasikoofferedtoleadhismenout;

  buttheyobjected,saying,“Letusservantsbekilled,youmustnotbeslain。”

  ThosewhosaidthiswereyoungBarotsewhohadbeendrilledtofightingbySebituane,andusedshieldsofox-hideTheybeatoffthepartyofLimboa,tenbeingwounded,andtenslainintheengagementLimboasubsequentlysentthreeslavesasaself-imposedfinetoMasikoforattackinghimIsucceededingettingtheMakololototreatthemessengersofMasikowell,though,astheyregardedthemasrebels,itwassomewhatagainstthegrainatfirsttospeakcivillytothem。

  Mpololo,attemptingtojustifyanoppositelineofconduct,toldmehowtheyhadfledfromSebituane,eventhoughhehadgiventhemnumbersofcattleaftertheirsubjectionbyhisarms,andwasrathersurprisedtofindthatIwasdisposedtothinkmorehighlyofthemforhavingassertedtheirindependence,evenatthelossofmilk。

  Forthisfood,allwhohavebeenaccustomedtoitfrominfancyinAfricahaveanexcessivelongingIpointedouthowtheymightbemutuallybeneficialtoeachotherbytheexchangeofcanoesandcattle。

  TherearesomeveryoldBarotselivingherewhowerethecompanionsoftheoldchiefSanturuThesemen,protectedbytheirage,wereveryfreeintheircommentsonthe“upstart“MakololoOneofthem,forinstance,interruptedmyconversationonedaywithsomeMakolologentlemenwiththeadvice“nottobelievethem,fortheywereonlyasetofthieves;“

  anditwastakeninquiteagood-naturedwayItisremarkablethatnoneoftheancientsherehadanytraditionofanearthquakehavingoccurredinthisregionTheirquickperceptionofeventsrecognizablebythesenses,andretentivenessofmemory,renderitprobablethatnoperceptiblemovementoftheearthhastakenplacebetween7Degand27DegS。

  inthecentreofthecontinentduringthelasttwocenturiesatleast。

  Thereisnoappearanceofrecentfractureordisturbanceofrockstobeseeninthecentralcountry,exceptthefallsofGonye;

  noristhereanyevidenceortraditionofhurricanes。

  IleftNalieleonthe13thofAugust,and,whenproceedingalongtheshoreatmidday,ahippopotamusstruckthecanoewithherforehead,liftingonehalfofitquiteoutofthewater,soasnearlytooverturnit。

  TheforceofthebuttshegavetiltedMashauanaoutintotheriver;

  therestofussprangtotheshore,whichwasonlyabouttenyardsoff。

  Glancingback,Isawhercometothesurfaceashortwayoff,andlooktothecanoe,asiftoseeifshehaddonemuchmischief。

  Itwasafemale,whoseyoungonehadbeenspearedthedaybefore。

  NodamagewasdoneexceptwettingpersonandgoodsThisissounusualanoccurrence,whentheprecautionistakentocoastalongtheshore,thatmymenexclaimed,“Isthebeastmad?”Therewereeightofusinthecanoeatthetime,andtheshakeitreceivedshowstheimmensepowerofthisanimalinthewater。

  OnreachingGonye,Mokwala,theheadman,havingpresentedmewithatusk,IgaveittoPitsane,ashewaseagerlycollectingivoryfortheLoandamarketTherocksofGonyearereddishgraysandstone,nearlyhorizontal,andperforatedbymadrepores,theholesshowingthecourseoftheinsectindifferentdirectionsTherockitselfhasbeenimpregnatedwithiron,andthathardened,formsaglazeonthesurfaceanappearancecommontomanyoftherocksofthiscountry。

  AUGUST22DThisistheendofwinterThetreeswhichlinethebanksbegintobudandblossom,andthereissomeshowoftheinfluenceofthenewsap,whichwillsoonendinbudsthatpushofftheoldfoliagebyassumingaverybrightorangecolorThisorangeissobrightthatImistookitformassesofyellowblossomThereiseveryvarietyofshadeintheleavesyellow,purple,copper,liver-color,andeveninkyblack。

  HavinggottheloanofothercanoesfromMpololo,andthreeoxenasprovisionfortheway,whichmadethenumberwehadbeenpresentedwithintheBarotsevalleyamounttothirteen,weproceededdowntherivertowardSesheke,andwereasmuchstruckasformerlywiththenobleriver。

  Thewholesceneryislovely,thoughtheatmosphereismurkyinconsequenceofthecontinuanceofthesmokytingeofwinter。

  ThispeculiartingeoftheatmospherewasobservedeverywinteratKolobeng,butitwasnotsoobservableinLondaasinthesouth,thoughIhadalwaysconsideredthatitwasowingtotheextensiveburningsofthegrass,inwhichhundredsofmilesofpasturageareannuallyconsumed。

  Asthequantityburnedinthenorthisverymuchgreaterthaninthesouth,andthesmokytingeofwinterwasnotobserved,someotherexplanationthantheseburningsmustbesoughtforIhavesometimesimaginedthattheloweringofthetemperatureinthewinterrenderedthevaporintheuppercurrentofairvisible,andimpartedthishazyappearance。

  TheamountoforganiclifeissurprisingAtthetimetheriverbeginstorise,the`Ibisreligiosa’comesdowninflocksoffifties,withprodigiousnumbersofotherwater-fowlSomeofthesand-banksappearwhitenedduringthedaywithflocksofpelicansIoncecountedthreehundred;othersarebrownwithducks`Anashistrionica’

  Igotfourteenofthesebyoneshot`QuerquedulaHottentota’,Smith,andotherkindsGreatnumbersofgulls`Procellariaturtur’,Smith,andseveralothers,floatoverthesurfaceThevastquantityofsmallbirds,whichfeedoninsects,showthattheriverteemsalsowithspecimensofminuteorganiclifeInwalkingamongbushesonthebanksweareoccasionallystungbyahornet,whichmakesitsnestinformlikethatofourownwasp,andhangsitonthebranchesoftrees。

  Thebreedingstorgh*issostronginthisinsectthatitpursuesanyonetwentyorthirtyyardswhohappenstobrushtoocloselypastitsnest。

  Thesting,whichittriestoinflictneartheeye,ismorelikeadischargeofelectricityfromapowerfulmachine,oraviolentblow,thanaughtelseItproducesmomentaryinsensibility,andisfollowedbythemostpungentpainYetthisinsectisquitetimidwhenawayfromitsnestItisnamedMurotuanibytheBechuanas。

  *Greeksigma-tau-omicron-rho-gamma-eta。

  WehavetsetsebetweenNametaandSekhosiAninsectofprey,aboutaninchinlength,long-leggedandgaunt-looking,maybeobservedflyingaboutandlightinguponthebaregroundItisatigerinitsway,foritspringsupontsetseandotherflies,and,suckingouttheirblood,throwsthebodiesaside。

  LongbeforereachingSeshekewehadbeeninformedthatapartyofMatebele,thepeopleofMosilikatse,hadbroughtsomepackagesofgoodsformetothesouthbankoftheriver,neartheVictoriaFalls,and,thoughtheydeclaredthattheyhadbeensentbyMrMoffat,theMakololohadrefusedtocreditthestatementoftheirswornenemies。

  Theyimaginedthattheparcelsweredirectedtomeasameretrick,wherebytoplacewitchcraft-medicineintothehandsoftheMakololo。

  WhentheMatebeleonthesouthbankcalledtotheMakololoonthenorthtocomeoverincanoesandreceivethegoodssentbyMoffatto“Nake“,theMakololoreplied,“Goalongwithyou,weknowbetterthanthat;

  howcouldhetellMoffattosendhisthingshere,hehavinggoneawaytothenorth?”TheMatebeleanswered,“Herearethegoods;

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