I had to be satisfied to accept the old man’s substitute in
the person of a slave (home born) and other nine Angoni
slaves, who all carried shields of buffalo hide, also kerries
and spears. My friend had also been true to his word, for
the three Maravi he had promised were close at hand. One
of them could speak Portuguese pretty fluently.
I made a declaration that I would not go by the southern
line which was pointed out, for visions of all manner of
dilemmas, even worse than those I had recently escaped
from, arose in my mind suggesting the inevitable results of
failure. Should I be unable to reach Livingstonia within a
reasonable time, we might unwittingly run into the Makololo
war, of which so much had been spoken. When at length
the direction that was to be taken had been arranged, I
made a calculation, and according to the reckoning the
line of march would in any case take us far to the north of
Livingstonia.
Each of the home slaves who were to accompany me
received Ips contract price in calico. I made it my business
to verify the suspicion which disturbed my mind regarding
the destiny of articles given to slaves. I was not sure
whether a slave on receiving a gift had or had not to deliver
it forthwith to his owner. Travellers are often apt to form
false opinions upon such matters, and in a case like that of
which I speak, the circumstances rather encouraged the
chance of inquiries going into the wrong channel. Why
did the slaves not make loin cloths for themselves, instead
of going about in a nude and bestial state ? Because they
had higher and better views. The calico did not go to
their owners, nor was it used to bedeck themselves. I t was
immediately handed to their wives, who soon hid the nakedness
of nature.
Exactly at mid-day I heard the words:
“ Amigo, tudo esta prompto! ” (Friend, all is ready.)
All was ready. I had been busily engaged in packing
the last sack, putting into it provisions for my personal use,
for the men looked after themselves. We had very little
provisions, and, comparatively speaking, still less of that
which would buy provisions. The vicissitudes of my stay,
or rather my entry into Angoni-land, had exhausted my
own supply, and already I had drawn heavily upon da
Costa’s resources.
But as I revelled in the hope that I would soon be in a
place where there Would be a superabundant supply, I
concluded that a few men with featherweight loads and fast
travel would fulfil the most desirable purpose, and ensure
the rapid accomplishment of this latter part of my journey.
Da Costa, ever generous in hospitality, more than once
said:
“ If you don’t find your friends, be sure to come back. I
will make it all right with the king.”
“ Oh,” I answered with all confidence, “ never fear; I will
find friends on the lak e ! ”
“ You can never be sure of anything in this country.”
After these few words, and with feelings of grateful
emotion, I said farewell to my kind friend, in whom I had
found all the bright blossoms of the truest character, enchaining
a friendship whose links can never be broken.
The Angoni, carrying the light loads on their heads, with
their buffalo shields in their left hands and their weapons
in their right, filed slowly out of the reed-built city and on
to the rolling prairie, from which I looked back and said
farewell to the blood-stained abode of Chikuse.
We struck out in a north-easterly direction, pursuing a
course as wavering in its windings as the sinuous track of
the snake. But it was with delight that the eye now