proceeded to that town, and found the wagon,
and every thing we had left in November, 1853, perfectly safe. A grand
meeting of all the people was called to receive our report, and the
articles which had been sent by the governor and merchants of Loanda. I
explained that none of these were my property, but that they were sent
to show the friendly feelings of the white men, and their eagerness to
enter into commercial relations with the Makololo. I then requested my
companions to give a true account of what they had seen. The wonderful
things lost nothing in the telling, the climax always being that they
had finished the whole world, and had turned only when there was no more
land. One glib old gentleman asked, "Then you reached Ma Robert (Mrs.
L.)?" They were obliged to confess that she lived a little beyond the
world. The presents were received with expressions of great satisfaction
and delight; and on Sunday, when Sekeletu made his appearance at church
in his uniform, it attracted more attention than the sermon; and
the kind expressions they made use of respecting myself were so very
flattering that I felt inclined to shut my eyes. Their private opinion
must have tallied with their public report, for I very soon received
offers from volunteers to accompany me to the east coast. They said they
wished to be able to return and relate strange things like my recent
companions; and Sekeletu immediately made arrangements with the Arab Ben
Habib to conduct a fresh party with a load of ivory to Loanda. These,
he said, must go with him and learn to trade: they were not to have any
thing to do in the disposal of the ivory, but simply look and learn. My
companions were to remain and rest themselves, and then return to Loanda
when the others had come home. Sekeletu consulted me as to sending
presents back to the governor and merchants of Loanda, but, not
possessing much confidence in this Arab, I advised him to send a present
by Pitsane, as he knew who ought to receive it.
Since my arrival in England, information has been received from Mr.
Gabriel that this party had arrived on the west coast, but that the
ivory had been disposed of to some Portuguese merchants in the interior,
and the men had been obliged to carry it down to Loanda. They had not
been introduced to Mr. Gabriel, but that gentleman, having learned that
they were in the city, went to them, and pronounced the names Pitsane,
Mashauana, when all started up and crowded ro
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