went out of
my hands I had no more to do with it. They, however, wished the
responsibility of slaughtering it to rest with me; if I had said they
might kill it, not many ounces would have remained in the morning. I
would have given permission, but had nothing else to offer in return for
Masiko's generosity.

We were now without any provisions except a small dole of manioc roots
each evening from Nyamoana, which, when eaten raw, produce poisonous
effects. A small loaf, made from nearly the last morsel of maize-meal
from Libonta, was my stock, and our friends from Masiko were still more
destitute; yet we all rejoiced so much at their arrival that we resolved
to spend a day with them. The Barotse of our party, meeting with
relatives and friends among the Barotse of Masiko, had many old tales to
tell; and, after pleasant hungry converse by day, we regaled our friends
with the magic lantern by night, and, in order to make the thing of use
to all, we removed our camp up to the village of Nyamoana. This is a
good means of arresting the attention, and conveying important facts to
the minds of these people.

When erecting our sheds at the village, Manenko fell upon our friends
from Masiko in a way that left no doubt on our minds but that she is
a most accomplished scold. Masiko had, on a former occasion, sent to
Samoana for a cloth, a common way of keeping up intercourse, and, after
receiving it, sent it back, because it had the appearance of having had
"witchcraft medicine" on it; this was a grave offense, and now Manenko
had a good excuse for venting her spleen, the embassadors having called
at her village, and slept in one of the huts without leave. If her
family was to be suspected of dealing in evil charms, why were Masiko's
people not to be thought guilty of leaving the same in her hut? She
advanced and receded in true oratorical style, belaboring her own
servants as well for allowing the offense, and, as usual in more
civilized feminine lectures, she leaned over the objects of her ire, and
screamed forth all their faults and failings ever since they were born,
and her despair of ever seeing them become better, until they were all
"killed by alligators". Masiko's people followed the plan of receiving
this torrent of abuse in silence, and, as neither we nor they had any
thing to eat, we parted next morning. In reference to Masiko selling
slaves to the Mambari, they promised to explain the relationship which
exists betwee