第6章

类别:其他 作者:David Livingstone字数:11984更新时间:18/12/14 10:02:35
Beyondthemarshthecountryishigher,andhasamuchlargerpopulation。Wepassedalonglineoftemporaryhuts,onaplainontherightbank,withcrowdsofmenandwomenhardatworkmakingsalt。Theyobtainitbymixingtheearth,whichisherehighlysaline,withwater,inapotwithasmallholeinit,andthenevaporatingtheliquid,whichrunsthrough,inthesun。Fromthenumberofwomenwesawcarryingitoffinbags,weconcludedthatvastquantitiesmustbemadeattheseworks。Itisworthobservingthatonsoilslikethis,containingsalt,thecottonisoflargerandfinerstaplethanelsewhere。WesawlargetractsofthisrichbrackishsoilbothintheShireandZambesivalleys,andhence,probably,sea-islandcottonwoulddowell;asingleplantofit,rearedbyMajorSicard,flourishedandproducedthelongstapleandpeculiartingeofthiscelebratedvariety,thoughplantedonlyinthestreetatTette;andtherealsoasaltefflorescenceappears,probablyfromdecompositionoftherock,offwhichthepeoplescrapeitforuse。 Thelargevillageofthechief,Mankokwe,occupiesasiteontherightbank;heownsanumberoffertileislands,andissaidtobetheRundo,orparamountchief,ofalargedistrict。Beingofanunhappysuspiciousdisposition,hewouldnotseeus;sowethoughtitbesttomoveon,ratherthanspendtimeinseekinghisfavour。 Onthe25thAugustwereachedDakanamoioisland,oppositetheperpendicularbluffonwhichChibisa\'svillagestands;hehadgone,withmostofhispeople,toliveneartheZambesi,buthisheadmanwascivil,andpromisedusguidesandwhateverelseweneeded。Afewofthemenwerebusycleaning,sorting,spinning,andweavingcotton。 Thisisacommonsightinnearlyeveryvillage,andeachfamilyappearstohaveitspatchofcotton,asourownancestorsinScotlandhadeachhispatchofflax。Nearsunsetanimmenseflockofthelargespeciesofhorn-bill(Buceroscristatus)cameheretoroostonthegreattreeswhichskirttheedgeofthecliff。Theyleaveearlyinthemorning,oftenbeforesunrise,fortheirfeeding-places,comingandgoinginpairs。Theyareevidentlyofalovingdisposition,andstronglyattachedtoeachother,themalealwaysnestlingclosebesidehismate。Afinemalefelltotheground,fromfear,atthereportofDr。Kirk\'sgun;itwascaughtandkeptonboard;thefemaledidnotgooffinthemorningstofeedwiththeothers,butflewroundtheship,anxiouslytrying,byherplaintivecalls,toinduceherbelovedonetofollowher:shecameagainintheeveningstorepeattheinvitations。Thepoordisconsolatecaptivesoonrefusedtoeat,andinfivedaysdiedofgrief,becausehecouldnothavehercompany。Nointernalinjurycouldbedetectedafterdeath。 Chibisaandhiswife,withanaturalshowofparentalfeeling,hadtoldtheDoctor,onhispreviousvisit,thatafewyearsbeforesomeofChisaka\'smenhadkidnappedandsoldtheirlittledaughter,andthatshewasnowaslavetothepadreatTette。OnhisreturntoTette,theDoctortriedhardtoransomandrestorethegirltoherparents,andofferedtwicethevalueofaslave;thepadreseemedwilling,butshecouldnotbefound。Thispadrewasbetterthantheaveragemenofthecountry;and,beingalwayscivilandobliging,wouldprobablyhaverestoredhergratuitously,butshehadbeensold,itmightbetothedistanttribeBazizulu,orhecouldnottellwhere。Customhadrenderedhisfeelingscallous,andChibisahadtobetoldthathischildwouldneverreturn。ItisthiscallousstateofmindwhichleadssomeofourownbloodtoquoteScriptureinsupportofslavery。Ifwecouldaffordtotakeabackwardstepincivilization,wemightfindmenamongourselveswhowouldinlikemannerproveMormonismoranyotherenormitytobedivine。 Welefttheshiponthe28thofAugust,1859,forthediscoveryofLakeNyassa。Ourpartynumberedforty-twoinall——fourwhites,thirty-sixMakololo,andtwoguides。Wedidnotactuallyneedsomany,eitherforcarriageordefence;buttookthembecausewebelievedthat,humannaturebeingeverywherethesame,blacksareasreadyaswhitestotakeadvantageoftheweak,andareascivilandrespectfultothepowerful。Wearmedourmenwithmuskets,whichgaveusinfluence,althoughitdidnotaddmuchtoourstrength,asmostofthemenhadneverdrawnatrigger,andinanyconflictwouldinallprobabilityhavebeenmoredangeroustousthantheenemy。 Ourpathcrossedthevalley,inanorth-easterlydirection,upthecourseofabeautifulflowingstream。Manyofthegardenshadexcellentcottongrowinginthem。Anhour\'smarchbroughtustothefootoftheManganjahills,upwhichlaythetoilsomeroad。Thevegetationsoonchanged;aswerosebamboosappeared,andnewtreesandplantsweremetwith,whichgavesuchincessantemploymenttoDr。 Kirk,thathetravelledthedistancethreetimesover。Remarkablyfinetrees,oneofwhichhasoil-yieldingseeds,andbelongstothemahoganyfamily,growwellinthehollowsalongtherivuletcourses。 Theascentbecameveryfatiguing,andweweregladofarest。 Lookingbackfromanelevationofathousandfeet,webeheldalovelyprospect。Theeyetakesinataglancethevalleybeneath,andthemanywindingsofitssilverstreamMakubula,orKubvula,fromtheshadyhill-side,whereitemergesinfoaminghaste,towhereitslowlyglidesintothetranquilShire;thentheShireitselfisseenformanyamileaboveandbelowChibisa\'s,andthegreatlevelcountrybeyond,withitsnumerousgreenwoods;untiltheprospect,westandnorth-west,isboundedfarawaybymassesofpeakedanddome-shapedbluemountains,thatfringethehighlandsoftheMaravicountry。 AfterawearymarchwehaltedatMakolongwi,thevillageofChitimba。 ItstandsinawoodyhollowonthefirstofthethreeterracesoftheManganjahills,and,likeallotherManganjavillages,issurroundedbyanimpenetrablehedgeofpoisonouseuphorbia。Thistreecastsadeepshade,whichwouldrenderitdifficultforbowmentotakeaimatthevillagersinside。Thegrassdoesnotgrowbeneathit,andthismaybethereasonwhyitissouniversallyused,forwhendrythegrasswouldreadilyconveyfiretothehutsinside;moreover,thehedgeactsasafendertoallflyingsparks。Asstrangersarewonttodo,wesatdownundersomefinetreesneartheentranceofthevillage。Acoupleofmats,madeofsplitreeds,werespreadforthewhitementositon;andtheheadmanbroughtaseguati,orpresent,ofasmallgoatandabasketofmeal。Thefullvalueinbeadsandcottonclothwashandedtohiminreturn。Hemeasuredthecloth,doubledit,andthenmeasuredthatagain。Thebeadswerescrutinized;hehadneverseenbeadsofthatcolourbefore,andshouldliketoconsultwithhiscomradesbeforeacceptingthem,andthis,afterrepeatedexaminationsandmuchanxioustalk,heconcludedtodo。Mealandpeaswerethenbroughtforsale。Afathomofbluecottoncloth,afulldressformanorwoman,wasproduced。OurMakololoheadman,Sininyane,thinkingapartofitwasenoughforthemeal,wasproceedingtotearit,whenChitimbaremarkedthatitwasapitytocutsuchanicedressforhiswife,hewouldratherbringmoremeal。\"Allright,\"saidSininyane;\"butlook,theclothisverywide,soseethatthebasketwhichcarriesthemealbewidetoo,andaddacocktomakethemealtastenicely。”Abrisktradesprangupatonce,eachbeingeagertoobtainasfinethingsashisneighbour,—— andallwereingoodhumour。Womenandgirlsbegantopoundandgrindmeal,andmenandboyschasedthescreamingfowlsoverthevillage,untiltheyranthemdown。Inafewhoursthemarketwascompletelygluttedwitheverysortofnativefood;theprices,however,rarelyfell,astheycouldeasilyeatwhatwasnotsold。 Wesleptunderthetrees,theairbeingpheasant,andnomosquitoesonthehills。Accordingtoourusualplanofmarching,byearlydawnourcampwasinmotion。Afteracupofcoffeeandabitofbiscuitwewereontheway。Theairwasdeliciouslycool,andthepathalittleeasierthanthatofyesterday。Wepassedanumberofvillages,occupyingverypicturesquespotsamongthehills,andinafewhoursgainedtheupperterrace,3000feetabovethelevelofthesea。TheplateaulieswestoftheMilanjemountains,anditsnorth- easternborderslopesdowntoLakeShirwa。Wewereallcharmedwiththesplendidcountry,andlookedwithnever-failingdelightonitsfertileplains,itsnumeroushills,andmajesticmountains。Insomeofthepasseswesawbramble-berriesgrowing;andthemanyotherflowers,thoughofgreatbeauty,didnotremindusofyouthandofhomeliketheungainlythornybramble-bushes。Wewereaweekincrossingthehigh-landsinanortherlydirection;thenwedescendedintotheUpperShireValley,whichisnearly1200feetabovethelevelofthesea。Thisvalleyiswonderfullyfertile,andsupportsalargepopulation。Afterleavingthesomewhatflat-toppedsouthernportion,themostprominentmountainoftheZombarangeisNjongone,whichhasafinestreamrunningpastitsnorthernbase。Weweredetainedattheendofthechainsomedaysbyoneofourcompanionsbeinglaidupwithfever。Onenightweweresuddenlyarousedbybuffaloesrushingclosebythesick-bed。Wewereencampedbyawoodontheborderofamarsh,butourpatientsoonrecovered,notwithstandingtheunfavourablesituation,andthepooraccommodation。 TheManganjacountryisdelightfullywellwatered。Theclear,cool,gushingstreamsareverynumerous。Oncewepassedsevenfinebrooksandaspringinasinglehour,andthis,too,nearthecloseofthedryseason。MountZomba,whichistwentymileslong,andfrom7000 to8000feethigh,hasabeautifulstreamflowingthroughaverdantvalleyonitssummit,andrunningawaydownintoLakeShirwa。Thehighlandsarewellwooded,andmanytrees,admirablefortheirheightandtimber,growonthevariouswatercourses。\"Isthiscountrygoodforcattle?\"weinquiredofaMakololoherdsman,whoseoccupationhadgivenhimskillinpasturage。\"Truly,\"hereplied,\"doyounotseeabundanceofthosegrasseswhichthecattlelove,andgetfatupon?\" Yetthepeoplehavebutfewgoats,andfewersheep。Withtheexceptionofanoccasionalleopard,therearenobeastsofpreytodisturbdomesticanimals。Wool-sheepwould,withoutdoubt,thriveonthesehighlands。PartoftheUpperShirevalleyhasaladyparamount,namedNyango;andinherdominionswomenrankhigherandreceivemorerespectfultreatmentthantheirsistersonthehills。 Thehillchief,Mongazi,calledhiswifetotakechargeofapresentwehadgivenhim。Shedroppeddownonherknees,clappingherhandsinreverence,beforeandafterreceivingourpresentsfromhislordlyhands。Itwaspainfultoseetheabjectmannerinwhichthewomenofthehilltribeskneltbesidethepathaswepassed;butagreatdifferencetookplacewhenwegotintoNyango\'scountry。 Onenteringavillage,weproceeded,asallstrangersdo,atoncetotheBoalo:matsofsplitreedsorbamboowereusuallyspreadforustositon。Ourguidesthentoldthemenwhomightbethere,whowewere,whencewehadcome,whitherwewantedtogo,andwhatwereourobjects。Thisinformationwasdulycarriedtothechief,who,ifasensibleman,cameatonce;but,ifhehappenedtobetimidandsuspicious,waiteduntilhehaduseddivination,andhiswarriorshadtimetocomeinfromoutlyinghamlets。Whenhemakeshisappearance,allthepeoplebegintoclaptheirhandsinunison,andcontinuedoingsotillhesitsdownoppositetous。Hiscounsellorstaketheirplacesbesidehim。Hemakesaremarkortwo,andisthensilentforafewseconds。Ourguidesthensitdowninfrontofthechiefandhiscounsellors,andbothpartiesleanforward,lookingearnestlyateachother;thechiefrepeatsaword,suchas\"Ambuiatu\" (ourFather,ormaster)——or\"moio\"(life),andallclaptheirhands。 Anotherwordisfollowedbytwoclaps,athirdbystillmoreclapping,wheneachtouchesthegroundwithbothhandsplacedtogether。Thenallriseandleanforwardwithmeasuredclap,andsitdownagainwithclap,clap,clap,fainter,andstillfainter,tillthelastdiesaway,orisbroughttoanendbyasmartloudclapfromthechief。Theykeepperfecttimeinthisspeciesofcourtetiquette。Ourguidesnowtellthechief,ofteninblankverse,alltheyhavealreadytoldhispeople,withtheadditionperhapsoftheirownsuspicionsofthevisitors。Heaskssomequestions,andthenconverseswithusthroughtheguides。Directcommunicationbetweenthechiefandtheheadofthestrangerpartyisnotcustomary。Inapproachingtheyoftenaskwhoisthespokesman,andthespokesmanofthechiefaddressesthepersonindicatedexclusively。Thereisnolackofpunctiliousgoodmanners。Theaccustomedpresentsareexchangedwithcivilceremoniousness;untilourmen,weariedandhungry,callout,\"Englishdonotbuyslaves,theybuyfood,\"andthenthepeoplebringmeal,maize,fowls,batatas,yams,beans,beer,forsale。 TheManganjaareanindustriousrace;andinadditiontoworkinginiron,cotton,andbasket-making,theycultivatethesoilextensively。 Allthepeopleofavillageturnouttolabourinthefields。Itisnouncommonthingtoseemen,women,andchildrenhardatwork,withthebabylyingclosebybeneathashadybush。Whenanewpieceofwoodlandistobecleared,theyproceedexactlyasfarmersdoinAmerica。Thetreesarecutdownwiththeirlittleaxesofsoftnativeiron;trunksandbranchesarepiledupandburnt,andtheashesspreadonthesoil。Thecornisplantedamongthestandingstumpswhicharelefttorot。Ifgrasslandistobebroughtundercultivation,asmuchtallgrassasthelabourercanconvenientlylayholdofiscollectedtogetherandtiedintoaknot。Hethenstrikeshishoeroundthetuftstosevertheroots,andleavingallstanding,proceedsuntilthewholegroundassumestheappearanceofafieldcoveredwithlittleshocksofcorninharvest。Ashorttimebeforetherainsbegin,thesegrassshocksarecollectedinsmallheaps,coveredwithearth,andburnt,theashesandburntsoilbeingusedtofertilizetheground。Largecropsofthemapira,orEgyptiandura(Holcussorghum),areraised,withmillet,beans,andground-nuts; alsopatchesofyams,rice,pumpkins,cucumbers,cassava,sweetpotatoes,tobacco,andhemp,orbang(Cannabissetiva)。Maizeisgrownalltheyearround。Cottoniscultivatedatalmosteveryvillage。Threevarietiesofcottonhavebeenfoundinthecountry,namely,twoforeignandonenative。The\"tonjemanga,\"orforeigncotton,thenameshowingthatithasbeenintroduced,isofexcellentquality,andconsideredatManchestertobenearlyequaltothebestNewOrleans。Itisperennial,butrequiresreplantingonceinthreeyears。AconsiderableamountofthisvarietyisgrownintheUpperandLowerShirevalleys。Everyfamilyofanyimportanceownsacottonpatchwhich,fromtheentireabsenceofweeds,seemedtobecarefullycultivated。Mostweresmall,noneseenonthisjourneyexceedinghalfanacre;butontheformertripsomewereobservedofmorethantwicethatsize。 The\"tonjecadja,\"orindigenouscotton,isofshorterstaple,andfeelsinthehandlikewool。Thiskindhastobeplantedeveryseasoninthehighlands;yet,becauseitmakesstrongercloth,manyofthepeoplepreferittotheforeigncotton;thethirdvarietyisnotfoundhere。ItwasremarkedtoanumberofmenneartheShireLakelet,alittlefurtherontowardsNyassa,\"Youshouldplantplentyofcotton,andprobablytheEnglishwillcomeandbuyit。”\"Truly,\" repliedafar-travelledBabisatradertohisfellows,\"thecountryisfullofcotton,andifthesepeoplecometobuytheywillenrichus。” Ourownobservationonthecottoncultivatedconvincedusthatthiswasnoemptyflourish,butafact。Everywherewemetwithit,andscarcelyeverenteredavillagewithoutfindinganumberofmencleaning,spinning,andweaving。Itisfirstcarefullyseparatedfromtheseedbythefingers,orbyanironroller,onalittleblockofwood,androveoutintolongsoftbandswithouttwist。Thenitreceivesitsfirsttwistonthespindle,andbecomesaboutthethicknessofcoarsecandlewick;afterbeingtakenoffandwoundintoalargeball,itisgiventhefinalhardtwist,andspunintoafirmcoponthespindleagain:alltheprocessesbeingpainfullyslow。 Ironoreisdugoutofthehills,anditsmanufactureisthestapletradeofthesouthernhighlands。Eachvillagehasitssmelting- house,itscharcoal-burners,andblacksmiths。Theymakegoodaxes,spears,needles,arrowheads,braceletsandanklets,which,consideringtheentireabsenceofmachinery,aresoldatsurprisinglylowrates;ahoeovertwopoundsinweightisexchangedforcalicoofaboutthevalueoffourpence。InvillagesnearLakeShirwaandelsewhere,theinhabitantsenterprettylargelyintothemanufactureofcrockery,orpottery,makingbyhandallsortsofcooking,water,andgrainpots,whichtheyornamentwithplumbagofoundinthehills。 Somefindemploymentinweavingneatbasketsfromsplitbamboos,andotherscollectthefibreofthebuaze,whichgrowsabundantlyonthehills,andmakeitintofish-nets。Thesetheyeitherusethemselves,orexchangewiththefishermenontheriverorlakesfordriedfishandsalt。Agreatdealofnativetradeiscarriedonbetweenthevillages,bymeansofbarterintobacco,salt,driedfish,skins,andiron。Manyofthemenareintelligent-looking,withwell-shapedheads,agreeablefaces,andhighforeheads。Wesoonlearnedtoforgetcolour,andwefrequentlysawcountenancesresemblingthoseofwhitepeoplewehadknowninEngland,whichbroughtbackthelooksofforgottenonesvividlybeforethemind。Thementakeagooddealofprideinthearrangementoftheirhair;thevarietiesofstyleareendless。Onetrainshislonglockstilltheytaketheadmiredformofthebuffalo\'shorns;othersprefertolettheirhairhanginathickcoildowntheirbacks,likethatanimal\'stail;whileanotherwearsitintwistedcords,which,stiffenedbyfilletsoftheinnerbarkofatreewoundspirallyroundeachcurl,radiatefromtheheadinalldirections。Somehaveithangingallroundtheshouldersinlargemasses;othersshaveitoffaltogether。Manyshavepartofitintoornamentalfigures,inwhichthefancyofthebarbercropsoutconspicuously。Aboutasmanydandiesruntoseedamongtheblacksasamongthewhites。TheManganjaadorntheirbodiesextravagantly,wearingringsontheirfingersandthumbs,besidesthroatlets,bracelets,andankletsofbrass,copper,oriron。Butthemostwonderfulofornaments,ifsuchitmaybecalled,isthepelele,orupper-lipringofthewomen。Themiddleoftheupperlipofthegirlsispiercedclosetotheseptumofthenose,andasmallpininsertedtopreventthepunctureclosingup。Afterithashealed,thepinistakenoutandalargeroneispressedintoitsplace,andsoonsuccessivelyforweeks,andmonths,andyears。Theprocessofincreasingthesizeofthelipgoesontillitscapacitybecomessogreatthataringoftwoinchesdiametercanbeintroducedwithease。 Allthehighlandwomenwearthepelele,anditiscommonontheUpperandLowerShire。Thepoorerclassesmakethemofholloworofsolidbamboo,butthewealthierofivoryortin。Thetinpeleleisoftenmadeintheformofasmalldish。Theivoryoneisnotunlikeanapkin-ring。Nowomaneverappearsinpublicwithoutthepelele,exceptintimesofmourningforthedead。Itisfrightfullyuglytoseetheupperlipprojectingtwoinchesbeyondthetipofthenose。 Whenanoldwearerofahollowbambooringsmiles,bytheactionofthemusclesofthecheeks,theringandlipoutsideitaredraggedbackandthrownabovetheeyebrows。Thenoseisseenthroughthemiddleofthering,amidtheexposedteethshowhowcarefullytheyhavebeenchippedtolooklikethoseofacatorcrocodile。Thepeleleofanoldlady,ChikandaKadze,achieftainess,abouttwentymilesnorthofMorambala,hungdownbelowherchin,with,ofcourse,apieceoftheupperliparounditsborder。Thelabialletterscannotbeproperlypronounced,buttheunderliphastodoitsbestforthem,againsttheupperteethandgum。Tellthemitmakesthemugly;theyhadbetterthrowitaway;theyreply,\"Kodi!Really!itisthefashion。”Howthishideousfashionoriginatedisanenigma。 Canthicklipseverhavebeenthoughtbeautiful,andthismodeofartificialenlargementresortedtoinconsequence?Theconstanttwiddlingofthepelelewiththetonguebytheyoungerwomensuggestedtheirreverentideathatitmighthavebeeninventedtogivesafeemploymenttothatlittlemember。\"Whydothewomenwearthesethings?\"weinquiredoftheoldchief,Chinsunse。Evidentlysurprisedatsuchastupidquestion,hereplied,\"Forbeauty,tobesure!Menhavebeardsandwhiskers;womenhavenone;andwhatkindofcreaturewouldawomanbewithoutwhiskers,andwithoutthepelele?Shewouldhaveamouthlikeaman,andnobeard;ha!ha! ha!\"AfterwardsontheRovuma,wefoundmenwearingthepelele,aswellaswomen。Anideasuggesteditselfonseeingtheeffectsoftheslightbutconstantpressureexertedontheuppergumandfrontteeth,ofwhichourmedicalbrethrenwilljudgethevalue。Inmanycasestheupperfrontteeth,insteadofthenaturalcurveoutwards,whichtherowpresents,hadbeenpressedsoastoappearasifthelineofalveoliinwhichtheywereplantedhadaninwardcurve。Asthiswasproducedbytheslightpressureofthepelelebackwards,personswithtooprominentteethmightbyslight,butlong-continuedpressure,bysomeapplianceonlyaselasticasthelip,havetheuppergumandteethdepressed,especiallyinyouth,moreeasilythanisusuallyimagined。Thepressureshouldbeappliedtotheuppergummorethantotheteeth。 TheManganjaarenotasoberpeople:theybrewlargequantitiesofbeer,andlikeitwell。Havingnohops,orothermeansofcheckingfermentation,theyareobligedtodrinkthewholebrewinafewdays,oritbecomesunfitforuse。Greatmerry-makingstakeplaceontheseoccasions,anddrinking,drumming,anddancingcontinuedayandnight,tillthebeerisgone。Incrossingthehillswesometimesfoundwholevillagesenjoyingthiskindofmirth。Theveterantravellerofthepartyremarked,thathehadnotseensomuchdrunkennessduringallthesixteenyearshehadspentinAfrica。Asweenteredavillageoneafternoon,notamanwastobeseen;butsomewomenweredrinkingbeerunderatree。Inafewmomentsthenativedoctor,oneoftheinnocents,\"nobody\'senemybuthisown,\" staggeredoutofahut,withhiscupping-horndanglingfromhisneck,andbegantoscoldusforabreachofetiquette。\"Isthisthewaytocomeintoaman\'svillage,withoutsendinghimwordthatyouarecoming?\"Ourmensoonpacifiedthefuddledbutgood-humouredmedico,who,enteringhisbeer-cellar,calledontwoofthemtohelphimtocarryoutahugepotofbeer,whichhegenerouslypresentedtous。 Whilethe\"medicalpractitioner\"wasthushospitablyemployed,thechiefawokeinafright,andshoutedtothewomentorunaway,ortheywouldallbekilled。Theladieslaughedattheideaoftheirbeingabletorunaway,andremainedbesidethebeer-pots。Weselectedaspotforourcamp,ourmencookedthedinnerasusual,andwewerequietlyeatingit,whenscoresofarmedmen,streamingwithperspiration,camepouringintothevillage。Theylookedatus,thenateachother,andturningtothechiefupbraidedhimforsoneedlesslysendingforthem。\"Thesepeoplearepeaceable;theydonothurtyou;youarekilledwithbeer:\"sosaying,theyreturnedtotheirhomes。 Nativebeerhasapinkishcolour,andtheconsistencyofgruel。Thegrainismadetovegetate,driedinthesun,poundedintomeal,andgentlyboiled。Whenonlyadayortwoold,thebeerissweet,withaslightdegreeofacidity,whichrendersitamostgratefulbeverageinahotclimate,orwhenfeverbegetsasorecravingforaciddrinks。Asingledraughtofitsatisfiesthiscravingatonce。Onlybydeepandlong-continuedpotationscanintoxicationbeproduced: thegrainbeinginaminutelydividedstate,itisagoodwayofconsumingit,andthedecoctionisverynutritious。AtTetteameasureofbeerisexchangedforanequal-sizedpotfullofgrain。A presentofthisbeer,sorefreshingtoourdarkcomrades,wasbroughttousinnearlyeveryvillage。Beer-drinkingdoesnotappeartoproduceanydisease,ortoshortenlifeonthehills。Neverbeforedidweseesomanyold,grey-headedmenandwomen;leaningontheirstavestheycamewiththeotherstoseethewhitemen。Theagedchief,MuataManga,couldhardlyhavebeenlessthanninetyyearsofage;hisvenerableappearancestrucktheMakololo。\"Heisanoldman,\"saidthey,\"averyoldman;hisskinhangsinwrinkles,justlikethatonelephants\'hips。”\"Didyounever,\"hewasasked,\"haveafitoftravellingcomeoveryou;adesiretoseeotherlandsandpeople?\"No,hehadneverfeltthat,andhadneverbeenfarfromhomeinhislife。Forlonglifetheyarenotindebtedtofrequentablutions。Anoldmantoldusthatherememberedtohavewashedonceinhislife,butitwassolongsincethathehadforgottenhowitfelt。\"Whydoyouwash?\"askedChinsunse\'swomenoftheMakololo; \"ourmenneverdo。” Thesuperstitiousordeal,bydrinkingthepoisonousmuave,obtainscredithere;andwhenapersonissuspectedofcrime,thisordealisresortedto。Ifthestomachrejectsthepoison,theaccusedispronouncedinnocent;butifitisretained,guiltisbelievedtobedemonstrated。Theirfaithissofirminitsdiscriminatingpower,thatthesupposedcriminaloffersofhisownaccordtodrinkit,andevenchiefsarenotexempted。Chibisa,relyingonitsefficacy,drankitseveraltimes,inordertovindicatehischaracter。Whenassertingthatallhiswarshadbeenjust,itwashintedthat,aseverychiefhadthesametaleofinnocencetotell,weoughttosuspendourjudgment。\"Ifyoudoubtmyword,\"saidhe,\"givemethemuavetodrink。”AchiefatthefootofMountZombasuccessfullywentthroughtheordealthedaywereachedhisvillage;andhispeoplemanifestedtheirjoyathisdeliverancebydrinkingbeer,dancing,anddrummingfortwodaysandnights。Itispossiblethatthenativedoctor,whomixestheingredientsofthepoisonedbowl,maybeabletosavethosewhomheconsidersinnocent;butitisdifficulttogetthenativestospeakaboutthematter,andnooneiswillingtotellwhatthemuavepoisonconsistsof。Wehavebeenshowntreessaidtobeused,buthadalwaysreasontodoubttheaccuracyofourinformants。Weoncefoundatreeinavillage,withmanypiecesofthebarkchippedoff,closelyalliedtotheTangenaorTanghina,theordealpoisontreeofMadagascar;butwecouldnotascertainanyparticularsaboutit。Deathisinflictedonthosefoundguiltyofwitchcraft,bythemuave。 Thewomenwailforthedeadtwodays。Seatedonthegroundtheychantafewplaintivewords,andendeachversewiththeprolongedsoundofa-a,oro-o,orea-ea-ea——a。Whateverbeerisinthehouseofthedeceased,ispouredoutonthegroundwiththemeal,andallcookingandwaterpotsarebroken,asbeingofnofurtheruse。Bothmenandwomenwearsignsofmourningfortheirdeadrelatives。Theseconsistofnarrowstripsofthepalm-leafwoundroundthehead,thearms,legs,neck,andbreasts,andworntilltheydropofffromdecay。Theybelieveintheexistenceofasupremebeing,calledMpambe,andalsoMorungo,andinafuturestate。\"Weliveonlyafewdayshere,\"saidoldChinsunse,\"butweliveagainafterdeath:wedonotknowwhere,orinwhatcondition,orwithwhatcompanions,forthedeadneverreturntotellus。Sometimesthedeaddocomeback,andappeartousindreams;buttheyneverspeaknortelluswheretheyhavegone,norhowtheyfare。”