The number of little villages seemed about equal to the number of valleys.  At some we stopped and rested, the people becoming more liberal as we advanced.  Others we found deserted, a sudden panic having seized the inhabitants, though the drum of Manenko was kept beaten pretty constantly, in order to give notice of the approach of great people.  When we had decided to remain for the night at any village, the inhabitants lent us the roofs of their huts, which in form resemble those of the Makololo, or a Chinaman’s hat, and can be taken off the walls at pleasure.  They lifted them off, and brought them to the spot we had selected as our lodging, and, when my men had propped them up with stakes, they were then safely housed for the night.  Every one who comes to salute either Manenko or ourselves rubs the upper parts of the arms and chest with ashes; those who wish to show profounder reverence put some also on the face.

We found that every village had its idols near it.  This is the case all through the country of the Balonda, so that, when we came to an idol in the woods, we always knew that we were within a quarter of an hour of human habitations.  One very ugly idol we passed rested on a horizontal beam placed on two upright posts.  This beam was furnished with two loops of cord, as of a chain, to suspend offerings before it.  On remarking to my companions that these idols had ears, but that they heard not, etc., I learned that the Balonda, and even the Barotse, believe that divination may be performed by means of these blocks of wood and clay; and though the wood itself could not hear, the owners had medicines by which it could be made to hear and give responses, so that if an enemy were approaching they would have full information.  Manenko having brought us to a stand on account of slight indisposition and a desire to send forward notice of our approach to her uncle, I asked why it was necessary to send forward information of our movements, if Shinte had idols who could tell him every thing.  “She did it only,"* was the reply.  It is seldom of much use to show one who worships idols the folly of idolatry without giving something else as an object of adoration instead.  They do not love them.  They fear them, and betake themselves to their idols only when in perplexity and danger.

   * This is a curious African idiom, by which a person implies
   he had no particular reason for his act.

While delayed, by Manenko’s management, among the Balonda villages, a little to the south of the town of Shinte, we were well supplied by the villagers with sweet potatoes and green maize; Sambanza went to his mother’s village for supplies of other food.  I was laboring under fever, and did not find it very difficult to exercise patience with her whims; but it being Saturday, I thought we might as well go to the town for Sunday (15th).  “No; her messenger must return from her uncle first.”  Being sure that the answer of the uncle would be favorable,