if the poisoned barb goes in nothing can
save the wounded. A bow is in use in the lower end of Lake Nyassa, but
is more common in the Maravi country, from six to eight inches broad,
which is intended to be used as a shield as well as a bow; but we never
saw one with the mark on it of an enemy's arrow. It certainly is no
match for the Zulu shield, which is between four and five feet long, of
an oval shape, and about two feet broad. So great is the terror this
shield inspires that we sometimes doubted whether the Mazitu here were
Zulus at all, and suspected that the people of the country took advantage
of that fear, and, assuming shields, pretended to belong to that nation.

On the 11th October we arrived at the stockade of Chinsamba in Mosapo,
and had reason to be very well satisfied with his kindness. A paraffin
candle was in his eyes the height of luxury, and the ability to make a
light instantaneously by a lucifer match, a marvel that struck him with
wonder. He brought all his relatives in different groups to see the
strange sights,--instantaneous fire-making, and a light, without the
annoyance of having fire and smoke in the middle of the floor. When they
wish to look for anything in the dark, a wisp of dried grass is lighted.

Chinsamba gave us a great deal of his company during our visits. As we
have often remarked in other cases, a chief has a great deal to attend to
in guiding the affairs of his people. He is consulted on all occasions,
and gives his advice in a stream of words, which show a very intimate
acquaintance with the topography of his district; he knows every rood
cultivated, every weir put in the river, every hunting-net, loom, gorge,
and every child of his tribe. Any addition made to the number of these
latter is notified to him; and he sends thanks and compliments to the
parents.

The presents which, following the custom of the country, we gave to every
headman, where we either spent a night or a longer period, varied from
four to eight yards of calico. We had some Manchester cloths made in
imitation of the native manufactured robes of the West Coast, each worth
five or six shillings. To the more important of the chiefs, for calico
we substituted one of these strong gaudy dresses, iron spoons, a knife,
needles, a tin dish, or pannikin, and found these presents to be valued
more than three times their value in cloth would have been. Eight or ten
shillings' worth gave abundant satisfaction