erce during
three-fourths of each year.

Above Kichokomane was a fertile plain, studded with a number of deserted
villages. Its inhabitants were living on low sandbanks, though they had
left their property behind, fearing only being stolen themselves. They
showed, however, an unfriendly spirit to the white men, not
understanding their objects. The blacks assembled on the shore, and
evidently intended to attack the party as they passed the high bank, but
a stiff breeze swept the boats by. Attempts were made to persuade the
natives that the travellers had only peaceable intentions, that they
wished to be their friends, and that their countrymen bought cotton and
ivory. Notwithstanding this, these savages were not satisfied, and
their leader was seen urging them to fire. Many of them had muskets,
while others, who were armed with bows, held them with arrows ready set
to shoot. Still the doctor and his companions were exceedingly
unwilling to come to blows, and half an hour was spent, during which, at
any moment, they might have been struck by bullets or poisoned arrows.
The English assured them that they had plenty of ammunition, that they
did not wish to shed the blood of the children of the same Great Father,
and that if there was a fight, the guilt would be theirs. At last their
leader ordered them to lay down their arms, and he came, saying that the
river was theirs, and that the English must pay toll for leave to pass.
As it was better to do so than fight, the payment demanded was given,
and they promised to be friends ever afterwards.

The sail was then hoisted, and the boats proceeded up, when they were
followed by a large party, as it was supposed merely to watch them, but
without a moment's warning the savages fired a volley of musket-balls
and poisoned arrows. Providentially they were so near that six arrows
passed over their heads, and four musket-balls alone went through the
sail. Their assailants immediately bolted, and did not again appear
till the boats had got to a considerable distance. A few shots were
fired over their heads, to give them an idea of the range of the
Englishmen's rifles. They had probably expected to kill some of the
party, and then in the confusion to rob the boats.

They were more hospitably treated by a Makoa chief higher up, who had
been to Iboe, and once to Mozambique with slaves.

His people refused to receive gaily-coloured prints, having probably
been deceived by sh