ommunicating on
common subjects with any tribe we came to; but doling out a story in
which they felt no interest, and which I understood only sufficiently
well to perceive that a mere abridgment was given, was uncommonly
slow work. Neither could Katema's attention be arrested, except by
compliments, of which they have always plenty to bestow as well as
receive. We were strangers, and knew that, as Makololo, we had not the
best of characters, yet his treatment of us was wonderfully good and
liberal.

I complimented him on the possession of cattle, and pleased him by
telling him how he might milk the cows. He has a herd of about thirty,
really splendid animals, all reared from two which he bought from the
Balobale when he was young. They are generally of a white color, and are
quite wild, running off with graceful ease like a herd of elands on the
approach of a stranger. They excited the unbounded admiration of the
Makololo, and clearly proved that the country was well adapted for them.
When Katema wishes to slaughter one, he is obliged to shoot it as if
it were a buffalo. Matiamvo is said to possess a herd of cattle in a
similar state. I never could feel certain as to the reason why they do
not all possess cattle in a country containing such splendid pasturage.

As Katema did not offer an ox, as would have been done by a Makololo
or Caffre chief, we slaughtered one of our own, and all of us were
delighted to get a meal of meat, after subsisting so long on the light
porridge and green maize of Londa. On occasions of slaughtering an
animal, some pieces of it are in the fire before the skin is all removed
from the body. A frying-pan full of these pieces having been got quickly
ready, my men crowded about their father, and I handed some all round.
It was a strange sight to the Balonda, who were looking on, wondering.
I offered portions to them too, but these were declined, though they
are excessively fond of a little animal food to eat with their vegetable
diet. They would not eat with us, but they would take the meat and cook
it in their own way, and then use it. I thought at one time that they
had imported something from the Mohammedans, and the more especially as
an exclamation of surprise, "Allah", sounds like the Illah of the
Arabs; but we found, a little farther on, another form of salutation,
of Christian (?) origin, "Ave-rie" (Ave Marie). The salutations probably
travel farther than the faith. My people, when satisf