Chapter 17

the poisonous kind--Its general Use--Presents of Food-- Punctiliousness of the Balonda--Their Idols and Superstition-- Dress of the Balonda--Villages beyond Lonaje--Cazembe--Our Guides and the Makololo--Night Rains--Inquiries for English cotton Goods--Intemese's Fiction--Visit from an old Man-- Theft--Industry of our Guide--Loss of Pontoon--Plains covered with Water--Affection of the Balonda for their Mothers--A Night on an Island--The Grass on the Plains--Source of the Rivers--Loan of the Roofs of Huts--A Halt--Fertility of the Country through which the Lokalueje flows--Omnivorous Fish-- Natives' Mode of catching them--The Village of a Half-brother of Katema, his Speech and Present--Our Guide's Perversity-- Mozenkwa's pleasant Home and Family--Clear Water of the flooded Rivers--A Messenger from Katema--Quendende's Village: his Kindness--Crop of Wool--Meet People from the Town of Matiamvo--Fireside Talk--Matiamvo's Character and Conduct-- Presentation at Katema's Court: his Present, good Sense, and Appearance--Interview on the following Day--Cattle--A Feast and a Makololo Dance--Arrest of a Fugitive--Dignified old Courtier--Katema's lax Government--Cold Wind from the North-- Canaries and other singing Birds--Spiders, their Nests and Webs--Lake Dilolo--Tradition--Sagacity of Ants.