13Th.  We went forward some miles, but were brought to a stand by the severity of my fever on the banks of a branch of the Loajima, another tributary of the Kasai.  I was in a state of partial coma until late at night, when it became necessary for me to go out; and I was surprised to find that my men had built a little stockade, and some of them took their spears and acted as a guard.  I found that we were surrounded by enemies, and a party of Chiboque lay near the gateway, after having preferred the demand of “a man, an ox, a gun, or a tusk.”  My men had prepared for defense in case of a night attack, and when the Chiboque wished to be shown where I lay sick, they very properly refused to point me out.  In the morning I went out to the Chiboque, and found that they answered me civilly regarding my intentions in opening the country, teaching them, etc., etc.  They admitted that their chiefs would be pleased with the prospect of friendship, and now only wished to exchange tokens of good-will with me, and offered three pigs, which they hoped I would accept.  The people here are in the habit of making a present, and then demanding whatever they choose in return.  We had been forewarned of this by our guides, so I tried to decline, by asking if they would eat one of the pigs in company with us.  To this proposition they said that they durst not accede.  I then accepted the present in the hope that the blame of deficient friendly feeling might not rest with me, and presented a razor, two bunches of beads, and twelve copper rings, contributed by my men from their arms.  They went off to report to their chief; and as I was quite unable to move from excessive giddiness, we continued in the same spot on Tuesday evening, when they returned with a message couched in very plain terms, that a man, tusk, gun, or even an ox, alone would be acceptable; that he had every thing else in his possession but oxen, and that, whatever I should please to demand from him, he would gladly give it.  As this was all said civilly, and there was no help for it if we refused but bloodshed, I gave a tired riding-ox.  My late chief mutineer, an Ambonda man, was now over-loyal, for he armed himself and stood at the gateway.  He would rather die than see his father imposed on; but I ordered Mosantu to take him out of the way, which he did promptly, and allowed the Chiboque to march off well pleased with their booty.  I told my men that I esteemed one of their lives of more value than all the oxen we had, and that the only cause which could induce me to fight would be to save the lives and liberties of the majority.  In the propriety of this they all agreed, and said that, if the Chiboque molested us who behaved so peaceably, the guilt would be on their heads.  This is a favorite mode of expression throughout the whole country.  All are anxious to give explanation of any acts they have performed, and conclude the narration with, “I have no guilt or blame” ("molatu").  “They have the guilt.”  I never could be positive whether the idea in their minds is guilt in the sight of the Deity, or of mankind only.