Passing by Lusengo, we soon afterwards came in
sigbt of the territory of Iboko.
Christmas Day found us halted at central Iboko, at
the landing-place of the old chief Mata Bwyki. The
ancient of the Bangala was absent at Bukumbi on the
left bank. Kokoro, his son, was suffering from a
severe nicer in the foot. Boleko was removing his
village and his belongings in order to occupy a new
clearing at the lower end of Iboko. Mbembé, the
second son, had departed on a trading tour to Langa-
Langa. Njugu, the favourite nephew, had lost four
children in one day by drowning, and was therefore
seeking forgetfulness of his sorrows in the beer-pot.
The “ cats being away, the mice began to play.”
Thieving became rampant; the “ unwashed ” of Iboko
were ripe for mischief; and they gathered on the bank
in great numbers, affecting much joy at beholding
the brother of their “ Lord of Many Guns.” But the
strong under-current of motives in pressing so warmly
forward presently disclosed itself by the sly abstraction
of “ unconsidered trifles.” A boat rowlock, a spear, an
opera-glass, a cap, a bag of clothes, an umbrella, and in
the strangest manner a tin-box, belonging to one of
the whites who was always the most unsuspecting of
individuals, and who required to be prompted on every
occasion not to put too large a faith in affected friendships.
As continual reports of theft by people who would
naturally steal so long as they were tempted by other
people’s gross negligence of their own properties were
Iboko,