The Albert N'yaza . ack most gladly on Mrooli. The country was a .vast fiat of grass land interspersedwith small villages and patches of sweet potatoes ; thesewere very inferior, owing to the want of drainage. Forabout two miles we continued on the banks of the Kafoorriver ; the women who carried the luggage were stragglingin disorder, and my few men were much scattered in theirendeavours to collect them. We approached a consider-able village; but just as we were nearing it, out rushedabout six hundred men with lances and shields, screamingand yelling like so many demons. Eor the moment, Ithou
The Albert N'yaza . ack most gladly on Mrooli. The country was a .vast fiat of grass land interspersedwith small villages and patches of sweet potatoes ; thesewere very inferior, owing to the want of drainage. Forabout two miles we continued on the banks of the Kafoorriver ; the women who carried the luggage were stragglingin disorder, and my few men were much scattered in theirendeavours to collect them. We approached a consider-able village; but just as we were nearing it, out rushedabout six hundred men with lances and shields, screamingand yelling like so many demons. Eor the moment, Ithought it was an attack, but almost immediately I noticedthat women and children were mingled with the men had not taken so cool a view of the excitedthrong that was now approaching us at full speed, bran-dishing their spears, and engaging with each other inmock combat. Theres a fight!—theres a fight! mymen exclaimed; we are attacked ! fire at them, , in a few seconds I persuaded them that it was. Chap. XL] KAMBASVS SATANIC ESCORT. 299 a mere parade, and that there was no danger. With arush, like a cloud of locusts, the natives closed around us,dancing, gesticulating, and yelling before my ox, feigningto attack us with spears and shields, then engaging insham fights with each other, and behaving like so manymadmen. A very tall chief accompanied them ; and one oftheir men was suddenly knocked down, and attacked by thecrowd with sticks and lances, and lay on the ground coveredwith blood : what his offence had been I did not hear. Theentire crowd were most grotesquely got up, being dressedin either leopard or white monkey skins, with cows tailsstrapped on behind, and antelopes horns fitted upon theirheads, while their chins were ornamented with false beards,made of the bushy ends of cows tails sewed , I never saw a more unearthly set of creatures ;they were perfect illustrations of my childish ideas ofdevils—horns, tails, and all, excepting
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