The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-08-10
The Cheerful Sound that Greets the Ear
of the Traveller on the Livingstone
River


Below Kaimba Island and its neigh
Dor the Livingstone assumes breadth
of eighteen hundred yards. The banks
are very populous; the villages of tn,
left bank comprise the district of Lua
vala. We thought for some time that
we should be permitted to pass by
quietly, but soon the great wooden
drums, followed out of huge trees, thun,
dered the signal along the river that
there were strangers. In order to lessen
all chances of rupture between us, we
sheered off to the middle of the river
and lay quietly on our paddles. But
from both banks at once, in fierce con
cert, the. natives, with their heads gayly
feathered, and armed with broad, BLACK
wooden shields and long spears, dashed
out toward us.
Tippu-Tib, before our departure, had
hired me two young men of Ukuska-
cannibals-as interpreters. These were
now instructed to cry out the word
"Sennenneh!" {" Peacep'), and to say
that we were friends.
But they would not reply TO our greet
ing, and in bold, peremptory manner
told us to return.
"But we are doing no harm, friends.
1t is the river that takes us down, and
the river will not stop or so back"
This is our river"
Good. Tell it to take us back, and
we will CO."
&C II yeu don't go back we will fight
you"
No, don't; we are friends"
we don't want you for our friends
we will eat you"
But we persisted in talking TO them,
and, as their curiosity was SO great, they
persisted in listening, and the conse-
quence was that the current conveyed
us near the right bank, and in such near
neighborhood to another district that
our discourteous escort had to think of
themselves, and began to skurry hastily
up the river, leaving us unattached.
The villages on the right bank also
maintained tremendous drumming
and blowing of war horns, and their
wild men hurried up with menace to-
ward us, urging their sharp proved
canoes 80 swiftly that they seemed to
skim over the water like flying fish.
Unlike the Luavala villagers, they did
not wait to be addressed, but as soon as
they came within fifty or sixty yards
they shot out their spears, crying out !;
Meat meatl All ah We shall have
plenty of meat. Bo-bo-bo-bo, Bo-bo-bo-
bo-o-op
Undoubtedly those must be relatives
of the terrible "Bo bo-bo's" above, we
thought, as with one mind we rose to re-
ply to this rabid man-eating tribe.
Anger we had none for them. Itseemed
tn me so absurd to be angry with people
who looked upon one only as an epicure
would regard a fat capon. Sometimes
also faint suspicion came to my mind
that this was all but part of hideous
dream. Why was it that / should be
haunted with the idea that they were
human beings who regarded me and m y
friends only in the light of meat !
Meat We? Heavensl What an
atrocious ideal
Meat! All we shall have meat to-
day. Meat! meat! meatl"
There was q fat wretch in canoe,
whom l allowed to crawl within spear
throw of me; who, while he swayed the
spear with viger far from assuring to
one who stood within reach of it, leered
with such clever hideeusness of feature
that felt, if only within arms length
of him, could have bestowed upon him
a hearty thump on the back, and cried
out applaudingly, Bravo, old boy!
You do it capitallyW
Yet not being able to reach him, Twas
rapidly being fascinated by him. The
rapid movements of the swaying spear
the steady wide mouthed grin, the big
square teeth, the head posted on one
side with the confident pose of a prac-
tical spear thrower, short brow, square
face, hair short and thick-shall / ever
forget him? 1t appeared to me as if the
spear partook of the same cruel, mex
orable look as the grinning savage.
Finally, saw him draw his right arm
back, and his body incline backward,
with still the same grin on his face, and
/ felt myself begin to count one, two,
three, four-and Ohizz The spear flew
over my back, and Kissed as it pierced
the water. The spell was broken.
1t was only five minutes work clear
ing the river. We picked up several
shields, and I ordered that all shields
should be henceforth religiously pre-
served; for the idea had entered my head
that they would answer capitally as bull