nothing beyond our inducing English merchants to establish
a company, of -which the Portuguese would, by fictitious
claims, reap all the benefit. The short-sighted “ dog in thè
manger” policy was so transparent that we always warned
our commercial friends in England that, without free navigation
of the Zambesi, it was in vain for them to run any risk.
Nothing but slaving will on any account be tolerated. W.
Sunley, Esq., of Johanna, on the recommendation of the late
Admiral Wyvil, took a cargo of goods to the River Angonsh,
or Angoxe, in order to begin a legal traffic with the natives.
He succeeded as well as he expected. He was then inveigled
on false pretences, by two Portuguese officials, to Mosambique ;
and, as soon as he came under the guns of the fort, he was
declared a prisoner, and his cargo and ship confiscated, for
“ illegal traffic in Portuguese territory.” Had he been a
slaver, without doubt, a little head-money would have secured
him lodging and a feast in the Governor-General’s palace
instead.
We found our friend Major Sicard at Mazaro with picks,
shovels, hurdles, and slaves, having come to build a fort and
custom-house at the Kongone. As we had no good reason to
hide the harbour, but many for its being made known, we supplied
him with a chart of the tortuous branches, which, running
among the mangroves, perplex the search ; and with such
directions as would enable him to find his ,way down to the
river. He had brought the relics of our fugitive mail, and it
was a disappointment to find that all had been lost, with the
exception of a bundle of old newspapers, two photographs, and
three letters which had been written before we left England.
Sininyane had exchanged names with a Zulu at Shupanga,
and on being called next morning made no answer ; to a
second and third summons he paid no attention ; but a t
length one of his men replied, “ He is not Sininyane now, he
is Moshoshomaand to this name he answered promptly.
The custom of exchanging names with men of other tribes,
is not uncommon; and the exchangers regard themselves as
close comrades, owing special duties to each other ever after.
Should one by chance visit his comrade’s town, he expects, to
receive food, lodging, and other friendly offices from him.
.While Charles Livingstone was at Kebrabasa during the
rainy season, a hungry, shivering native traveller was made
a comrade for life, not by exchanging names, but by some
food and a small piece of cloth. Eighteen months after,
while on our journey into the interior, a man came into
our camp, bringing a liberal present of rice, meal, beer,
and a fowl, and reminding us of what had been done for
him (which Charles Livingstone had entirely forgotten), said
that now seeing us travelling he “ did not like us to sleep
hungry or thirsty.” Several of our men, like some people
at home, dropped their own names and adopted those of
the Chiefs; others were a little in advance of those who
take the surnames of higher people, for they took those of
the mountains, or cataracts we had seen on our travels.
We had a Chibisa, a Morambala, a Zomba, and a Kebrabasa,
and they were called by these names even after they had
returned to their own country.
We had been so much hindered and annoyed by the “ Ma
Robert,” alias “Asthmatic,” that the reader, though a tithe
is not mentioned, may think we have said more than enough.
The man, who had been the chief means of imposing this
wretched craft on us, had passed away, and with him all
bitterness from our hearts. ' We felt it to be a sad pity,
however, that any one, for unfair gain, should do deeds
which cannot be spoken of after he is gone. We had still