WhenwetoldMoninathatwehadnothingtopresentbutsomehoes，herepliedthathewasnotinneedofthosearticles，andthathehadabsolutepoweroverthecountryinfront，andifhepreventedusfromproceeding，noonewouldsayanythingtohim。
　　HislittleboyBoromohavingcometotheencampmenttolookatus，Igavehimaknife，andhewentoffandbroughtapintofhoneyforme。
　　Thefathercamesoonafterward，andIofferedhimashirt。
　　Heremarkedtohiscouncilors，“Itisevidentthatthismanhasnothing，for，ifhehad，hispeoplewouldbebuyingprovisions，butwedon’tseethemgoingaboutforthatpurpose。”Hiscouncildidnotagreeinthis。
　　Theyevidentlybelievedthatwehadgoods，butkeptthemhid，andwefeltitratherhardtobesuspectedoffalsehood。
　　Itwasprobablyattheirsuggestionthatintheeveningawardancewasgotupaboutahundredyardsfromourencampment，asiftoputusinfearandforceustobringforthpresents。
　　SomeofMonina’syoungmenhadguns，butmostwerearmedwithlargebows，arrows，andspearsTheybeattheirdrumsfuriously，andoccasionallyfiredoffagunAsthissortofdanceisnevergotupunlessthereisanintentiontoattack，mymenexpectedanassault。
　　Wesatandlookedatthemforsometime，andthen，asitbecamedark，laydown，allreadytogivethemawarmreceptionButanhourortwoafterdarkthedanceceased，and，aswethensawnooneapproachingus，wewenttosleepDuringthenight，oneofmyheadmen，Monahin，wasseentogetup，looktowardthevillage，andsaytoonewhowashalfawake，“Don’tyouhearwhatthesepeoplearesaying？Goandlisten。”
　　Hethenwalkedoffintheoppositedirection，andneverreturned。
　　Wehadnoguardset，buteveryonelaywithhisspearinhishand。
　　Themantowhomhespokeappearstohavebeeninadreamycondition，foritdidnotstrikehimthatheoughttogivethealarmNextmorningIfoundtomysorrowthatMonahinwasgone，andnotatraceofhimcouldbediscoveredHehadanattackofpleuritissomeweeksbefore，andhadrecovered，butlatterlycomplainedalittleofhishead。
　　Iobservedhimingoodspiritsonthewayhither，andincrossingsomeofthestreams，asIwascarefulnottowetmyfeet，heaidedme，andseveraltimesjokedatmybecomingsolightIntheeveninghesatbesidemytentuntilitwasdark，anddidnotmanifestanygreatalarm。
　　Itwasprobablyeitherasuddenfitofinsanity，or，havinggonealittlewayoutfromthecamp，hemayhavebeencarriedoffbyalion，asthispartofthecountryisfullofthemIinclinetotheformeropinion，becausesuddeninsanityoccurswhenthereisanyunusualstrainupontheirmindsMonahinwasincommandoftheBatokaofMokwineinmyparty，andhewaslookeduponwithgreatdislikebyallthatchief’ssubjectsTheonlydifficultiesIhadwiththemaroseinconsequenceofbeingobligedtogiveordersthroughhim。
　　TheysaidMokwineisreportedtohavebeenkilledbytheMakololo，butMonahinistheindividualwhoputforthhishandandslewhim。
　　Whenoneofthesepeoplekillsinbattle，heseemstohavenocompunctionafterward；butwhenhemakesaforayonhisownresponsibility，andkillsamanofnote，thecommonpeoplemakeremarkstoeachother，whicharereportedtohim，andbringtheaffairperpetuallytohisremembranceThisiterationontheconsciencecausesinsanity，andwhenonerunsawayinawidecountrylikethis，thefugitiveisneverheardofMonahinhadlatelybecomeafraidofhisownpartyfromoverhearingtheirremarks，andsaidmorethanoncetome，“Theywanttokillme。”IbelieveifherantoanyvillagetheywouldtakecareofhimIfelthislossgreatly，andspentthreedaysinsearchingforhimHewasasensibleandmostobligingman。
　　IsentinthemorningtoinformMoninaofthissadevent，andheatoncesenttoallthegardensaround，desiringthepeopletolookforhim，and，shouldhecomenear，tobringhimhome。
　　Heevidentlysympathizedwithusinoursorrow，and，afraidlestwemightsuspecthim，added，“Wenevercatchnorkidnappeoplehere。
　　ItisnotourcustomItisconsideredasguiltamongallthetribes。”
　　Igavehimcreditfortruthfulness，andheallowedustomoveonwithoutfarthermolestation。
　　Afterleavinghisvillagewemarchedinthebedofasand-riveraquarterofamilebroad，calledTangweWalkingonthissandisasfatiguingaswalkingonsnowThecountryisflat，andcoveredwithlowtrees，butweseehighhillsinthedistance。
　　AlittletothesouthwehavethoseoftheLoboleThisregionisverymuchinfestedbylions，andmennevergoanydistanceintothewoodsalone。
　　Havingturnedasideononeoccasionatmidday，andgoneashortdistanceamonggrassalittletallerthanmyself，ananimalsprungawayfrommewhichwascertainlynotanantelope，butIcouldnotdistinguishwhetheritwasalionorahyaenaThisabundanceofcarnivoramadeusloseallhopeofMonahinWesawfootprintsofmanyblackrhinoceroses，buffaloes，andzebras。
　　AfterafewhourswereachedthevillageofNyakobaTwomen，whoaccompaniedusfromMoninatoNyakoba’s，wouldnotbelieveuswhenwesaidthatwehadnobeadsItisverytryingtohaveone’sveracitydoubted，but，onopeningtheboxes，andshowingthemthatallIhadwasperfectlyuselesstothem，theyconsentedtoreceivesomebeadsoffSekwebu’swaist，andIpromisedtosendfouryardsofcalicofromTeteAswecameawayfromMonina’svillage，awitch-doctor，whohadbeensentfor，arrived，andallMonina’swiveswentforthintothefieldsthatmorningfasting。
　　Theretheywouldbecompelledtodrinkaninfusionofaplantnamed“goho“，whichisusedasanordealThisceremonyiscalled“muavi“，andisperformedinthiswayWhenamansuspectsthatanyofhiswiveshasbewitchedhim，hesendsforthewitch-doctor，andallthewivesgoforthintothefield，andremainfastingtillthatpersonhasmadeaninfusionoftheplantTheyalldrinkit，eachoneholdingupherhandtoheaveninattestationofherinnocencyThosewhovomititareconsideredinnocent，whilethosewhomitpurgesarepronouncedguilty，andputtodeathbyburningTheinnocentreturntotheirhomes，andslaughteracockasathank-offeringtotheirguardianspirits。
　　ThepracticeofordealiscommonamongallthenegronationsnorthoftheZambesiThissummaryprocedureexcitedmysurprise，formyintercoursewiththenativesherehadledmetobelievethatthewomenwereheldinsomuchestimationthatthemenwouldnotdaretogetridofthemthusButtheexplanationIreceivedwasthis。
　　Theslightestimputationmakesthemeagerlydesirethetest；
　　theyareconsciousofbeinginnocent，andhavethefullestfaithinthemuavidetectingtheguiltyalone；hencetheygowillingly，andeveneagerly，todrinkitWheninAngola，ahalf-castewaspointedouttomewhoisoneofthemostsuccessfulmerchantsinthatcountry；
　　andthemotherofthisgentleman，whowasperfectlyfree，went，ofherownaccord，allthewayfromAmbacatoCassange，tobekilledbytheordeal，herrichsonmakingnoobjection。
　　ThesamecustomprevailsamongtheBarotse，Bashubia，andBatoka，butwithslightvariationsTheBarotse，forinstance，pourthemedicinedownthethroatofacockorofadog，andjudgeoftheinnocenceorguiltofthepersonaccusedaccordingtothevomitingorpurgingoftheanimalIhappenedtomentiontomyownmenthewater-testforwitchesformerlyinuseinScotland：
　　thesupposedwitch，beingboundhandandfoot，wasthrownintoapond；
　　ifshefloated，shewasconsideredguilty，takenout，andburned；
　　butifshesankandwasdrowned，shewaspronouncedinnocent。
　　Thewisdomofmyancestorsexcitedasmuchwonderintheirmindsastheircustomdidinmine。
　　ThepersonwhomNyakobaappointedtobeourguide，havinginformedusofthedecision，cameandbargainedthathisservicesshouldberewardedwithahoeIhadnoobjectiontogiveit，andshowedhimthearticle；
　　hewasdelightedwithit，andwentofftoshowittohiswife。
　　Hesoonafterwardreturned，andsaidthat，thoughhewasperfectlywillingtogo，hiswifewouldnotlethimIsaid，“Thenbringbackthehoe；“
　　buthereplied，“Iwantit。”“Well，gowithus，andyoushallhaveit。”
　　“Butmywifewon’tletme。”Iremarkedtomymen，“Didyoueverhearsuchafool？”Theyanswered，“Oh，thatisthecustomoftheseparts；
　　thewivesarethemasters。”AndSekwebuinformedmethathehadgonetothisman’shouse，andheardhimsayingtohiswife，“DoyouthinkthatIwouldeverleaveyou？”then，turningtoSekwebu，heasked，“DoyouthinkIwouldleavethisprettywoman？Isshenotpretty？”
　　Sekwebuhadbeenmakinginquiriesamongthepeople，andhadfoundthatthewomenindeedpossessedagreatdealofinfluence。
　　WequestionedtheguidewhomwefinallygotfromNyakoba，anintelligentyoungman，whohadmuchoftheArabfeatures，andfoundthestatementsconfirmedWhenayoungmantakesalikingforagirlofanothervillage，andtheparentshavenoobjectiontothematch，heisobligedtocomeandliveattheirvillageHehastoperformcertainservicesforthemother-in-law，suchaskeepingherwellsuppliedwithfirewood；andwhenhecomesintoherpresenceheisobligedtositwithhiskneesinabentposition，asputtingouthisfeettowardtheoldladywouldgivehergreatoffenseIfhebecomestiredoflivinginthisstateofvassalage，andwishestoreturntohisownfamily，heisobligedtoleaveallhischildrenbehindtheybelongtothewife。
　　ThisisonlyamorestringentenforcementofthelawfromwhichemanatesthepracticewhichprevailssoveryextensivelyinAfrica，knowntoEuropeansas“buyingwives“Suchvirtuallyitis，butitdoesnotappearquiteinthatlighttotheactors。
　　Somanyheadofcattleorgoatsaregiventotheparentsofthegirl“togiveherup“，asitistermed，i。e。，toforegoallclaimonheroffspring，andallowanentiretransferenceofherandherseedintoanotherfamily。
　　Ifnothingisgiven，thefamilyfromwhichshehascomecanclaimthechildrenaspartofitself：thepaymentismadetoseverthisbond。
　　Inthecasesupposed，theyoungmanhasnotbeenabletoadvanceanythingforthatpurpose；and，fromthetemptationsplacedherebeforemymen，Ihavenodoubtthatsomeprefertohavetheirdaughtersmarriedinthatway，asitleadstotheincreaseoftheirownvillageMymenexcitedtheadmirationoftheBambiri，whotookthemforasuperiorbreedonaccountoftheirbraveryinelephant-hunting，andwishedtogetthemassons-in-lawontheconditionsnamed，butnoneyieldedtothetemptation。
　　Wewereinformedthatthereisachildbelongingtoahalf-castePortugueseinoneofthesetribes，andthefatherhadtriedinvaintogethimfromthemother’sparentsWesawseveralthingstoconfirmtheimpressionofthehigherpositionwhichwomenholdhere；and，beinganxioustodiscoverifIwerenotmistaken，whenwecameamongthePortugueseIinquiredofthem，andwastoldthattheyhadascertainedthesamething；andthat，iftheywishedamantoperformanyserviceforthem，hewouldreply，“Well，Ishallgoandaskmywife。”Ifsheconsented，hewouldgo，andperformhisdutyfaithfully；butnoamountofcoaxingorbriberywouldinducehimtodoitifsherefusedThePortuguesepraisedtheappearanceoftheBanyai，andtheycertainlyareafinerace。
　　WegotonbetterwithNyakobathanweexpectedHehasbeensomuchaffectedbythesesendathatheisquitedecrepit，andrequirestobefed。
　　Iatonceshowedhismessengerthatwehadnothingwhatevertogive。
　　Nyakobawasoffendedwithhimfornotbelievingme，andheimmediatelysentabasketofmaizeandanotherofcorn，sayingthathebelievedmystatement，andwouldsendmenwithmetoTetewhowouldnotleadmetoanyothervillage。
　　Thebirdsheresingverysweetly，andIthoughtIheardthecanary，asinLondaWehadaheavyshowerofrain，andIobservedthatthethermometersank14Deginonehourafterward。
　　FromthebeginningofFebruaryweexperiencedasensiblediminutionoftemperatureInJanuarythelowestwas75Deg。，andthatatsunrise；
　　theaverageatthesamehoursunrisebeing79Deg。；at3P。M。，90Deg。；
　　andatsunset，82DegInFebruaryitfellaslowas70Deg。
　　inthecourseofthenight，andtheaverageheightwas88Deg。
　　Onlyoncediditriseto94Deg。，andathunder-stormfollowedthis；
　　yetthesensationofheatwasgreaternowthanithadbeenatmuchhighertemperaturesonmoreelevatedlands。
　　Wepassedseveralvillagesbygoingroundaboutwaysthroughtheforest。
　　Wesawtheremainsofalionthathadbeenkilledbyabuffalo，andthehornsofaputokwaneblackantelope，thefinestIhadeverseen，whichhadmetitsdeathbyalionThedrums，beatingallnightinonevillagenearwhichweslept，showedthatsomepersoninithadfinishedhiscourseOntheoccasionofthedeathofachief，atraderisliabletoberobbed，forthepeopleconsiderthemselvesnotamenabletolawuntilanewoneiselectedWecontinuedaverywindingcourse，inordertoavoidthechiefKatolosa，whoissaidtolevylargesumsuponthosewhofallintohishands。
　　Oneofourguideswasafine，tallyoungman，theveryimageofBenHabibtheArabTheywerecarryingdriedbuffalo’smeattothemarketatTeteasaprivatespeculation。