can propitiate the Deity through them.  In illustration of their ideas, it may be mentioned that, when we were among the tribes west of Semalembue, several of the people came forward and introduced themselves—­one as a hunter of elephants, another as a hunter of hippopotami, a third as a digger of pitfalls—­apparently wishing me to give them medicine for success in their avocations, as well as to cure the diseases of those to whom I was administering the drugs.  I thought they attributed supernatural power to them, for, like all Africans, they have unbounded faith in the efficacy of charms; but I took pains to let them know that they must pray and trust to another power than mine for aid.  We never saw Mburuma himself, and the conduct of his people indicated very strong suspicions, though he gave us presents of meal, maize, and native corn.  His people never came near us except in large bodies and fully armed.  We had to order them to place their bows, arrows, and spears at a distance before entering our encampment.  We did not, however, care much for a little trouble now, as we hoped that, if we could pass this time without much molestation, we might yet be able to return with ease, and without meeting sour, suspicious looks.

The soil, glancing every where with mica, is very fertile, and all the valleys are cultivated, the maize being now in ear and eatable.  Ranges of hills, which line both banks of the river above this, now come close up to each bank, and form a narrow gorge, which, like all others of the same nature, is called Mpata.  There is a narrow pathway by the side of the river, but we preferred a more open one in a pass among the hills to the east, which is called Mohango.  The hills rise to a height of 800 or 1000 feet, and are all covered with trees.  The rocks were of various colored mica schist; and parallel with the Zambesi lay a broad band of gneiss with garnets in it.  It stood on edge, and several dikes of basalt, with dolerite, had cut through it.

Mburuma sent two men as guides to the Loangwa.  These men tried to bring us to a stand, at a distance of about six miles from the village, by the notice, “Mburuma says you are to sleep under that tree.”  On declining to do this, we were told that we must wait at a certain village for a supply of corn.  As none appeared in an hour, I proceeded on the march.  It is not quite certain that their intentions were hostile, but this seemed to disarrange their plans, and one of them was soon observed running back to Mburuma.  They had first of all tried to separate our party by volunteering the loan of a canoe to convey Sekwebu and me, together with our luggage, by way of the river, and, as it was pressed upon us, I thought that this was their design.  The next attempt was to detain us in the pass; but, betraying no suspicion, we civilly declined to place ourselves in their power in an unfavorable position.  We afterward heard that a party of Babisa traders, who came from the northeast, bringing English goods from Mozambique, had been plundered by this same people.