Along the left bank, above Kichokomane, is an exceedingly fertile plain, nearly two miles broad, and studded with a number of deserted villages.The inhabitants were living in temporary huts on low naked sandbanks; and we found this to be the case as far as we went.They leave most of their property and food behind, because they are not afraid of these being stolen, but only fear being stolen themselves.
The great slave-route from Nyassa to Kilwa passes to N.E. from S.W., just beyond them; and it is dangerous to remain in their villages at this time of year, when the kidnappers are abroad.In one of the temporary villages, we saw, in passing, two human heads lying on the ground.We slept a couple of miles above this village.
Before sunrise next morning, a large party armed with bows and arrows and muskets came to the camp, two or three of them having a fowl each, which we refused to purchase, having bought enough the day before.They followed us all the morning, and after breakfast those on the left bank swam across and joined the main party on the other side.It was evidently their intention to attack us at a chosen spot, where we had to pass close to a high bank, but their plan was frustrated by a stiff breeze sweeping the boat past, before the majority could get to the place.They disappeared then, but came out again ahead of us, on a high wooded bank, walking rapidly to the bend, near which we were obliged to sail.An arrow was shot at the foremost boat; and seeing the force at the bend, we pushed out from the side, as far as the shoal water would permit, and tried to bring them to a parley, by declaring that we had not come to fight, but to see the river."Why did you fire a gun, a little while ago?" they asked."We shot a large puff-adder, to prevent it from killing men;you may see it lying dead on the beach."With great courage, our Mokadamo waded to within thirty yards of the bank, and spoke with much earnestness, assuring them that we were a peaceable party, and had not come for war, but to see the river.We were friends, and our countrymen bought cotton and ivory, and wished to come and trade with them.All we wanted was to go up quietly to look at the river, and then return to the sea.While he was talking with those on the shore, the old rogue, who appeared to be the ringleader, stole up the bank, and with a dozen others, waded across to the island, near which the boats lay, and came down behind us.Wild with excitement, they rushed into the water, and danced in our rear, with drawn bows, taking aim, and making various savage gesticulations.Their leader urged them to get behind some snags, and then shoot at us.The party on the bank in front had many muskets--and those of them, who had bows, held them with arrows ready set in the bowstrings.They had a mass of thick bush and trees behind them, into which they could in a moment dart, after discharging their muskets and arrows, and be completely hidden from our sight; a circumstance that always gives people who use bows and arrows the greatest confidence.
Notwithstanding these demonstrations, we were exceedingly loath to come to blows.We spent a full half-hour exposed at any moment to be struck by a bullet or poisoned arrow.We explained that we were better armed than they were, and had plenty of ammunition, the suspected want of which often inspires them with courage, but that we did not wish to shed the blood of the children of the same Great Father with ourselves; that if we must fight, the guilt would be all theirs.
This being a common mode of expostulation among themselves, we so far succeeded, that with great persuasion the leader and others laid down their arms, and waded over from the bank to the boats to talk the matter over."This was their river; they did not allow white men to use it.We must pay toll for leave to pass."It was somewhat humiliating to do so, but it was pay or fight; and, rather than fight, we submitted to the humiliation of paying for their friendship, and gave them thirty yards of cloth.They pledged themselves to be our friends ever afterwards, and said they would have food cooked for us on our return.We then hoisted sail, and proceeded, glad that the affair had been amicably settled.Those on shore walked up to the bend above to look at the boat, as we supposed; but the moment she was abreast of them, they gave us a volley of musket-balls and poisoned arrows, without a word of warning.Fortunately we were so near, that all the arrows passed clear over us, but four musket-balls went through the sail just above our heads.All our assailants bolted into the bushes and long grass the instant after firing, save two, one of whom was about to discharge a musket and the other an arrow, when arrested by the fire of the second boat.Not one of them showed their faces again, till we were a thousand yards away.A few shots were then fired over their heads, to give them an idea of the range of our rifles, and they all fled into the woods.Those on the sandbank rushed off too, with the utmost speed; but as they had not shot at us, we did not molest them, and they went off safely with their cloth.They probably expected to kill one of our number, and in the confusion rob the boats.It is only where the people are slavers that the natives of this part of Africa are bloodthirsty.
