In different parts of this country, we remarked that when old friends were inquired for, the reply was, “Ba hola” (They are getting better); or if the people of a village were inquired for, the answer was, “They are recovering,” as if sickness was quite a common thing.  Indeed, many with whom we had made acquaintance in going north we now found were in their graves.  On the 15th Katema came home from his hunting, having heard of our arrival.  He desired me to rest myself and eat abundantly, for, being a great man, I must feel tired; and he took good care to give the means of doing so.  All the people in these parts are exceedingly kind and liberal with their food, and Katema was not behindhand.  When he visited our encampment, I presented him with a cloak of red baize, ornamented with gold tinsel, which cost thirty shillings, according to the promise I had made in going to Londa; also a cotton robe, both large and small beads, an iron spoon, and a tin pannikin containing a quarter of a pound of powder.  He seemed greatly pleased with the liberality shown, and assured me that the way was mine, and that no one should molest me in it if he could help it.  We were informed by Shakatwala that the chief never used any part of a present before making an offer of it to his mother, or the departed spirit to whom he prayed.  Katema asked if I could not make a dress for him like the one I wore, so that he might appear as a white man when any stranger visited him.  One of the councilors, imagining that he ought to second this by begging, Katema checked him by saying, “Whatever strangers give, be it little or much, I always receive it with thankfulness, and never trouble them for more.”  On departing, he mounted on the shoulders of his spokesman, as the most dignified mode of retiring.  The spokesman being a slender man, and the chief six feet high, and stout in proportion, there would have been a break-down had he not been accustomed to it.  We were very much pleased with Katema; and next day he presented us with a cow, that we might enjoy the abundant supplies of meal he had given with good animal food.  He then departed for the hunting-ground, after assuring me that the town and every thing in it were mine, and that his factotum, Shakatwala, would remain and attend to every want, and also conduct us to the Leeba.

On attempting to slaughter the cow Katema had given, we found the herd as wild as buffaloes; and one of my men having only wounded it, they fled many miles into the forest, and were with great difficulty brought back.  Even the herdsman was afraid to go near them.  The majority of them were white, and they were all beautiful animals.  After hunting it for two days it was dispatched at last by another ball.  Here we saw a flock of jackdaws, a rare sight in Londa, busy with the grubs in the valley, which are eaten by the people too.