WhenwetoldMoninathatwehadnothingtopresentbutsomehoes，herepliedthathewasnotinneedofthosearticles，andthathehadabsolutepoweroverthecountryinfront，andifhepreventedusfromproceeding，noonewouldsayanythingtohim。
HislittleboyBoromohavingcometotheencampmenttolookatus，Igavehimaknife，andhewentoffandbroughtapintofhoneyforme。
Thefathercamesoonafterward，andIofferedhimashirt。
Heremarkedtohiscouncilors，“Itisevidentthatthismanhasnothing，for，ifhehad，hispeoplewouldbebuyingprovisions，butwedon’tseethemgoingaboutforthatpurpose。”Hiscouncildidnotagreeinthis。
Theyevidentlybelievedthatwehadgoods，butkeptthemhid，andwefeltitratherhardtobesuspectedoffalsehood。
Itwasprobablyattheirsuggestionthatintheeveningawardancewasgotupaboutahundredyardsfromourencampment，asiftoputusinfearandforceustobringforthpresents。
SomeofMonina’syoungmenhadguns，butmostwerearmedwithlargebows，arrows，andspearsTheybeattheirdrumsfuriously，andoccasionallyfiredoffagunAsthissortofdanceisnevergotupunlessthereisanintentiontoattack，mymenexpectedanassault。
Wesatandlookedatthemforsometime，andthen，asitbecamedark，laydown，allreadytogivethemawarmreceptionButanhourortwoafterdarkthedanceceased，and，aswethensawnooneapproachingus，wewenttosleepDuringthenight，oneofmyheadmen，Monahin，wasseentogetup，looktowardthevillage，andsaytoonewhowashalfawake，“Don’tyouhearwhatthesepeoplearesaying？Goandlisten。”
Hethenwalkedoffintheoppositedirection，andneverreturned。
Wehadnoguardset，buteveryonelaywithhisspearinhishand。
Themantowhomhespokeappearstohavebeeninadreamycondition，foritdidnotstrikehimthatheoughttogivethealarmNextmorningIfoundtomysorrowthatMonahinwasgone，andnotatraceofhimcouldbediscoveredHehadanattackofpleuritissomeweeksbefore，andhadrecovered，butlatterlycomplainedalittleofhishead。
Iobservedhimingoodspiritsonthewayhither，andincrossingsomeofthestreams，asIwascarefulnottowetmyfeet，heaidedme，andseveraltimesjokedatmybecomingsolightIntheeveninghesatbesidemytentuntilitwasdark，anddidnotmanifestanygreatalarm。
Itwasprobablyeitherasuddenfitofinsanity，or，havinggonealittlewayoutfromthecamp，hemayhavebeencarriedoffbyalion，asthispartofthecountryisfullofthemIinclinetotheformeropinion，becausesuddeninsanityoccurswhenthereisanyunusualstrainupontheirmindsMonahinwasincommandoftheBatokaofMokwineinmyparty，andhewaslookeduponwithgreatdislikebyallthatchief’ssubjectsTheonlydifficultiesIhadwiththemaroseinconsequenceofbeingobligedtogiveordersthroughhim。
TheysaidMokwineisreportedtohavebeenkilledbytheMakololo，butMonahinistheindividualwhoputforthhishandandslewhim。
Whenoneofthesepeoplekillsinbattle，heseemstohavenocompunctionafterward；butwhenhemakesaforayonhisownresponsibility，andkillsamanofnote，thecommonpeoplemakeremarkstoeachother，whicharereportedtohim，andbringtheaffairperpetuallytohisremembranceThisiterationontheconsciencecausesinsanity，andwhenonerunsawayinawidecountrylikethis，thefugitiveisneverheardofMonahinhadlatelybecomeafraidofhisownpartyfromoverhearingtheirremarks，andsaidmorethanoncetome，“Theywanttokillme。”IbelieveifherantoanyvillagetheywouldtakecareofhimIfelthislossgreatly，andspentthreedaysinsearchingforhimHewasasensibleandmostobligingman。
IsentinthemorningtoinformMoninaofthissadevent，andheatoncesenttoallthegardensaround，desiringthepeopletolookforhim，and，shouldhecomenear，tobringhimhome。
Heevidentlysympathizedwithusinoursorrow，and，afraidlestwemightsuspecthim，added，“Wenevercatchnorkidnappeoplehere。
ItisnotourcustomItisconsideredasguiltamongallthetribes。”
Igavehimcreditfortruthfulness，andheallowedustomoveonwithoutfarthermolestation。
Afterleavinghisvillagewemarchedinthebedofasand-riveraquarterofamilebroad，calledTangweWalkingonthissandisasfatiguingaswalkingonsnowThecountryisflat，andcoveredwithlowtrees，butweseehighhillsinthedistance。
AlittletothesouthwehavethoseoftheLoboleThisregionisverymuchinfestedbylions，andmennevergoanydistanceintothewoodsalone。
Havingturnedasideononeoccasionatmidday，andgoneashortdistanceamonggrassalittletallerthanmyself，ananimalsprungawayfrommewhichwascertainlynotanantelope，butIcouldnotdistinguishwhetheritwasalionorahyaenaThisabundanceofcarnivoramadeusloseallhopeofMonahinWesawfootprintsofmanyblackrhinoceroses，buffaloes，andzebras。
AfterafewhourswereachedthevillageofNyakobaTwomen，whoaccompaniedusfromMoninatoNyakoba’s，wouldnotbelieveuswhenwesaidthatwehadnobeadsItisverytryingtohaveone’sveracitydoubted，but，onopeningtheboxes，andshowingthemthatallIhadwasperfectlyuselesstothem，theyconsentedtoreceivesomebeadsoffSekwebu’swaist，andIpromisedtosendfouryardsofcalicofromTeteAswecameawayfromMonina’svillage，awitch-doctor，whohadbeensentfor，arrived，andallMonina’swiveswentforthintothefieldsthatmorningfasting。
Theretheywouldbecompelledtodrinkaninfusionofaplantnamed“goho“，whichisusedasanordealThisceremonyiscalled“muavi“，andisperformedinthiswayWhenamansuspectsthatanyofhiswiveshasbewitchedhim，hesendsforthewitch-doctor，andallthewivesgoforthintothefield，andremainfastingtillthatpersonhasmadeaninfusionoftheplantTheyalldrinkit，eachoneholdingupherhandtoheaveninattestationofherinnocencyThosewhovomititareconsideredinnocent，whilethosewhomitpurgesarepronouncedguilty，andputtodeathbyburningTheinnocentreturntotheirhomes，andslaughteracockasathank-offeringtotheirguardianspirits。
ThepracticeofordealiscommonamongallthenegronationsnorthoftheZambesiThissummaryprocedureexcitedmysurprise，formyintercoursewiththenativesherehadledmetobelievethatthewomenwereheldinsomuchestimationthatthemenwouldnotdaretogetridofthemthusButtheexplanationIreceivedwasthis。
Theslightestimputationmakesthemeagerlydesirethetest；
theyareconsciousofbeinginnocent，andhavethefullestfaithinthemuavidetectingtheguiltyalone；hencetheygowillingly，andeveneagerly，todrinkitWheninAngola，ahalf-castewaspointedouttomewhoisoneofthemostsuccessfulmerchantsinthatcountry；
andthemotherofthisgentleman，whowasperfectlyfree，went，ofherownaccord，allthewayfromAmbacatoCassange，tobekilledbytheordeal，herrichsonmakingnoobjection。
ThesamecustomprevailsamongtheBarotse，Bashubia，andBatoka，butwithslightvariationsTheBarotse，forinstance，pourthemedicinedownthethroatofacockorofadog，andjudgeoftheinnocenceorguiltofthepersonaccusedaccordingtothevomitingorpurgingoftheanimalIhappenedtomentiontomyownmenthewater-testforwitchesformerlyinuseinScotland：
thesupposedwitch，beingboundhandandfoot，wasthrownintoapond；
ifshefloated，shewasconsideredguilty，takenout，andburned；
butifshesankandwasdrowned，shewaspronouncedinnocent。
Thewisdomofmyancestorsexcitedasmuchwonderintheirmindsastheircustomdidinmine。
ThepersonwhomNyakobaappointedtobeourguide，havinginformedusofthedecision，cameandbargainedthathisservicesshouldberewardedwithahoeIhadnoobjectiontogiveit，andshowedhimthearticle；
hewasdelightedwithit，andwentofftoshowittohiswife。
Hesoonafterwardreturned，andsaidthat，thoughhewasperfectlywillingtogo，hiswifewouldnotlethimIsaid，“Thenbringbackthehoe；“
buthereplied，“Iwantit。”“Well，gowithus，andyoushallhaveit。”
“Butmywifewon’tletme。”Iremarkedtomymen，“Didyoueverhearsuchafool？”Theyanswered，“Oh，thatisthecustomoftheseparts；
thewivesarethemasters。”AndSekwebuinformedmethathehadgonetothisman’shouse，andheardhimsayingtohiswife，“DoyouthinkthatIwouldeverleaveyou？”then，turningtoSekwebu，heasked，“DoyouthinkIwouldleavethisprettywoman？Isshenotpretty？”
Sekwebuhadbeenmakinginquiriesamongthepeople，andhadfoundthatthewomenindeedpossessedagreatdealofinfluence。
WequestionedtheguidewhomwefinallygotfromNyakoba，anintelligentyoungman，whohadmuchoftheArabfeatures，andfoundthestatementsconfirmedWhenayoungmantakesalikingforagirlofanothervillage，andtheparentshavenoobjectiontothematch，heisobligedtocomeandliveattheirvillageHehastoperformcertainservicesforthemother-in-law，suchaskeepingherwellsuppliedwithfirewood；andwhenhecomesintoherpresenceheisobligedtositwithhiskneesinabentposition，asputtingouthisfeettowardtheoldladywouldgivehergreatoffenseIfhebecomestiredoflivinginthisstateofvassalage，andwishestoreturntohisownfamily，heisobligedtoleaveallhischildrenbehindtheybelongtothewife。
ThisisonlyamorestringentenforcementofthelawfromwhichemanatesthepracticewhichprevailssoveryextensivelyinAfrica，knowntoEuropeansas“buyingwives“Suchvirtuallyitis，butitdoesnotappearquiteinthatlighttotheactors。
Somanyheadofcattleorgoatsaregiventotheparentsofthegirl“togiveherup“，asitistermed，i。e。，toforegoallclaimonheroffspring，andallowanentiretransferenceofherandherseedintoanotherfamily。
Ifnothingisgiven，thefamilyfromwhichshehascomecanclaimthechildrenaspartofitself：thepaymentismadetoseverthisbond。
Inthecasesupposed，theyoungmanhasnotbeenabletoadvanceanythingforthatpurpose；and，fromthetemptationsplacedherebeforemymen，Ihavenodoubtthatsomeprefertohavetheirdaughtersmarriedinthatway，asitleadstotheincreaseoftheirownvillageMymenexcitedtheadmirationoftheBambiri，whotookthemforasuperiorbreedonaccountoftheirbraveryinelephant-hunting，andwishedtogetthemassons-in-lawontheconditionsnamed，butnoneyieldedtothetemptation。
Wewereinformedthatthereisachildbelongingtoahalf-castePortugueseinoneofthesetribes，andthefatherhadtriedinvaintogethimfromthemother’sparentsWesawseveralthingstoconfirmtheimpressionofthehigherpositionwhichwomenholdhere；and，beinganxioustodiscoverifIwerenotmistaken，whenwecameamongthePortugueseIinquiredofthem，andwastoldthattheyhadascertainedthesamething；andthat，iftheywishedamantoperformanyserviceforthem，hewouldreply，“Well，Ishallgoandaskmywife。”Ifsheconsented，hewouldgo，andperformhisdutyfaithfully；butnoamountofcoaxingorbriberywouldinducehimtodoitifsherefusedThePortuguesepraisedtheappearanceoftheBanyai，andtheycertainlyareafinerace。
WegotonbetterwithNyakobathanweexpectedHehasbeensomuchaffectedbythesesendathatheisquitedecrepit，andrequirestobefed。
Iatonceshowedhismessengerthatwehadnothingwhatevertogive。
Nyakobawasoffendedwithhimfornotbelievingme，andheimmediatelysentabasketofmaizeandanotherofcorn，sayingthathebelievedmystatement，andwouldsendmenwithmetoTetewhowouldnotleadmetoanyothervillage。
Thebirdsheresingverysweetly，andIthoughtIheardthecanary，asinLondaWehadaheavyshowerofrain，andIobservedthatthethermometersank14Deginonehourafterward。
FromthebeginningofFebruaryweexperiencedasensiblediminutionoftemperatureInJanuarythelowestwas75Deg。，andthatatsunrise；
theaverageatthesamehoursunrisebeing79Deg。；at3P。M。，90Deg。；
andatsunset，82DegInFebruaryitfellaslowas70Deg。
inthecourseofthenight，andtheaverageheightwas88Deg。
Onlyoncediditriseto94Deg。，andathunder-stormfollowedthis；
yetthesensationofheatwasgreaternowthanithadbeenatmuchhighertemperaturesonmoreelevatedlands。
Wepassedseveralvillagesbygoingroundaboutwaysthroughtheforest。
Wesawtheremainsofalionthathadbeenkilledbyabuffalo，andthehornsofaputokwaneblackantelope，thefinestIhadeverseen，whichhadmetitsdeathbyalionThedrums，beatingallnightinonevillagenearwhichweslept，showedthatsomepersoninithadfinishedhiscourseOntheoccasionofthedeathofachief，atraderisliabletoberobbed，forthepeopleconsiderthemselvesnotamenabletolawuntilanewoneiselectedWecontinuedaverywindingcourse，inordertoavoidthechiefKatolosa，whoissaidtolevylargesumsuponthosewhofallintohishands。
Oneofourguideswasafine，tallyoungman，theveryimageofBenHabibtheArabTheywerecarryingdriedbuffalo’smeattothemarketatTeteasaprivatespeculation。