then made a few purchases of cloth and other necessaries
for the road, and on the following morning was ready to
make a fresh start.
Although anxious to visit the hot springs which lay
on the north hank of the Zambesi, a few miles up-water,
I had to abandon the idea, as it was with the greatest
difficulty that even a few men could be induced to go with
me northwards, on account of the extraordinary rumours of
hostilities on every side; some of the reports being true.
However, I was informed that my men had all been paid,
and that among the party the principals, acting as guides,
were some Landin, whose country lies on the high flats to
the west of Lake Nyassa. They had brought ivory to
Tette, and as they were now on their way home, they would
guide me, and carry light loads.
The bugle from the fort sounded the reveille very early
on the morning of our departure. I sprung from my bed
full of energy for the fresh start, and looking out at the
window could see that some of the Maravi had already
arrived.
A few delays took place, and much to my disgust the
palmero was brought into requisition.
The loads, principally sacks of rice and meal, were piled
on the sandy beach below the governor’s residence. Two
boats were in readiness to ferry the party over.
I had been in Tette for only eight days, yet I felt as
though I had been in the place for years. Happy, indeed,
has been my fortune! Generally speaking, wherever my
wandering footsteps have taken me in different parts of the
world, it has been my lot to find good, kind, and hospitable
people.
One of the Jesuit fathers bade me a most doleful
adieu.
“ Oh, I am afraid you will be killed! ” were his parting
words. “ You will never see your home and England
again I ”
Senhor Braga and some others came down to the shore,
and watched the mixed crew as they tumbled into the
boats one after the other, with their assegais, bundles, bags,
gourds, wooden troughs, and some with flintlocks, besides
their loads. A number of people, who evidently did not
belong to the party, also crowded in, bringing the boat s
gunwale down to the water’s edge. The shore party wished
us good luck. The boats swung out into the moving stream,
bright with the reflected blue of the sky; the short paddles
broke the waters into foam, and we soon were ploughing our
way with good speed across the mighty river.
On our left we passed the tiny, picturesque island, which
faces the town, with its numerous green shrubs, and silvery
sands glistening in the glare of the sun. In a short time
we landed on the northern shore.
Even now my men were entirely unknown to me ; for it
had been a very difficult matter to get them to leave the
town. I calculated that I would soon know each individual
when on the north side of the river; but numerous stragglers
made it difficult to select the men.
Chibanga, however, was the individual who was to have
charge of the Maravi men. The Landin were very independent,
they did not wish to carry anything, save their shields
of buffalo-hide (shaped exactly like those of the Zulu),
and their own provisions. Misiri—a Portuguese slave, and
rather an old-looking boy, more, I think, from wear and
tear than from a weight of years—was to be cook, companion,
and interpreter.
The Landin showed unbounded delight at getting
out of the town, quickly divesting themselves of their