illage had its idols near it. This is the case all
through the country of the Balonda, so that, when we came to an idol in
the woods, we always knew that we were within a quarter of an hour of
human habitations. One very ugly idol we passed rested on a horizontal
beam placed on two upright posts. This beam was furnished with two loops
of cord, as of a chain, to suspend offerings before it. On remarking to
my companions that these idols had ears, but that they heard not,
etc., I learned that the Balonda, and even the Barotse, believe that
divination may be performed by means of these blocks of wood and clay;
and though the wood itself could not hear, the owners had medicines by
which it could be made to hear and give responses, so that if an enemy
were approaching they would have full information. Manenko having
brought us to a stand on account of slight indisposition and a desire
to send forward notice of our approach to her uncle, I asked why it was
necessary to send forward information of our movements, if Shinte had
idols who could tell him every thing. "She did it only,"* was the reply.
It is seldom of much use to show one who worships idols the folly
of idolatry without giving something else as an object of adoration
instead. They do not love them. They fear them, and betake themselves to
their idols only when in perplexity and danger.

* This is a curious African idiom, by which a person implies
he had no particular reason for his act.

While delayed, by Manenko's management, among the Balonda villages, a
little to the south of the town of Shinte, we were well supplied by
the villagers with sweet potatoes and green maize; Sambanza went to his
mother's village for supplies of other food. I was laboring under fever,
and did not find it very difficult to exercise patience with her whims;
but it being Saturday, I thought we might as well go to the town for
Sunday (15th). "No; her messenger must return from her uncle first."
Being sure that the answer of the uncle would be favorable, I thought we
might go on at once, and not lose two days in the same spot. "No, it
is our custom;" and every thing else I could urge was answered in the
genuine pertinacious lady style. She ground some meal for me with her
own hands, and when she brought it told me she had actually gone to a
village and begged corn for the purpose. She said this with an air as if
the inference must be drawn by even a stupid white man: "I know how to