en a second terrace, on which trees and bushes abound; and I thought
I could detect a third and higher steppe. But I never could discover
terraces on the adjacent country, such as in other countries show
ancient sea-beaches. The path runs sometimes on the one and sometimes on
the other of these river terraces. Canoes are essentially necessary; but
I find that they here cost too much for my means, and higher up, where
my hoes might have secured one, I was unwilling to enter into a canoe
and part with my men while there was danger of their being attacked.

18TH. Yesterday we rested under a broad-spreading fig-tree. Large
numbers of buffaloes and water-antelopes were feeding quietly in the
meadows; the people have either no guns or no ammunition, or they would
not be so tame. Pangola visited us, and presented us with food. In
few other countries would one hundred and fourteen sturdy vagabonds be
supported by the generosity of the head men and villagers, and whatever
they gave be presented with politeness. My men got pretty well supplied
individually, for they went into the villages and commenced dancing. The
young women were especially pleased with the new steps they had to show,
though I suspect many of them were invented for the occasion, and would
say, "Dance for me, and I will grind corn for you." At every fresh
instance of liberality, Sekwebu said, "Did not I tell you that these
people had hearts, while we were still at Linyanti?" All agreed that the
character he had given was true, and some remarked, "Look! although we
have been so long away from home, not one of us has become lean." It was
a fact that we had been all well supplied either with meat by my gun or
their own spears, or food from the great generosity of the inhabitants.
Pangola promised to ferry us across the Zambesi, but failed to fulfill
his promise. He seemed to wish to avoid offending his neighbor Mpende
by aiding us to escape from his hands, so we proceeded along the bank.
Although we were in doubt as to our reception by Mpende, I could not
help admiring the beautiful country as we passed along. There is,
indeed, only a small part under cultivation in this fertile valley, but
my mind naturally turned to the comparison of it with Kolobeng, where we
waited anxiously during months for rain, and only a mere thunder-shower
followed. I shall never forget the dry, hot east winds of that region;
the yellowish, sultry, cloudless sky; the grass and all the plant