shaped towards the N.W., and we traversed a large fertile
tract of rich soil extensively cultivated, but dotted with many gigantic
thorny acacias which had proved too large for the little axes of the
cultivators. After leaving Nkwinda, the first village we spent a night
at in the district Ngabi was that of Chembi, and it had a stockade around
it. The Azitu or Mazitu were said to be ravaging the country to the west
of us, and no one was safe except in a stockade. We have so often, in
travelling, heard of war in front, that we paid little attention to the
assertion of Chembi, that the whole country to the N.W. was in flight
before these Mazitu, under a chief with the rather formidable name of
Mowhiriwhiri; we therefore resolved to go on to Chinsamba's, still
further in the same direction, and hear what he said about it.

The only instrument of husbandry here is the short-handled hoe; and about
Tette the labour of tilling the soil, as represented in the woodcut, is
performed entirely by female slaves. On the West Coast a double-handled
hoe is employed. Here the small hoe is seen in the hands of both men and
women. In other parts of Africa a hoe with a handle four feet long is
used, but the plough is quite unknown.

In illustration of the manner in which the native knowledge of
agriculture strikes an honest intelligent observer, it may be mentioned
that the first time good Bishop Mackenzie beheld how well the fields of
the Manganja were cultivated on the hills, he remarked to Dr.
Livingstone, then his fellow-traveller--"When telling the people in
England what were my objects in going out to Africa, I stated that, among
other things, I meant to teach these people agriculture; but I now see
that they know far more about it than I do." This, we take it, was an
honest straightforward testimony, and we believe that every unprejudiced
witness, who has an opportunity of forming an opinion of Africans who
have never been debased by slavery, will rank them very much higher in
the scale of intelligence, industry, and manhood, than others who know
them only in a state of degradation.

On coming near Chinsamba's two stockades, on the banks of the Lintipe, we
were told that the Mazitu had been repulsed there the day before, and we
had evidence of the truth of the report of the attack in the sad sight of
the bodies of the slain. The Zulus had taken off large numbers of women
laden with corn; and, when driven back, had cut off t