Nyassa

Excerpt from book: : '' native cunning and an organised campaign against this hitherto unconquered colony of the Makololo, my presence would oaly add one to the defending force. However, I dispelled all such notions and hoped for the best. Moreover, it was interesting, for it would be almost the only instance of a white man having confronted this desperate horde, whose terror is known through a vast portion of Africa. The morning dawned, and I was early astir. About 10 A.m. I was told that the Ma Viti were about to pay me a visit where I was. Seating myself on a box at the door of my hut, I awaited their arrival. They advanced in true military style, single file and in good order, some three hundred in number, and took their seats in a spot selected for them. They brought their women with them. Unlike the other natives, they were dressed in true Zulu fashion, with monkey-fur lavishly used for adornment, the hair plastered into the well-known ring which distinguishes the fighting chief, and each carried his hide shield and spears. All was now silent. ' I found that they were not aware of my presence in this part of the country, and it caused some consternation. They said the chief had gone on : further pressing elicited the fact that he was afraid to see me. " What!" said I to the young men ; " are you led by a chief who does not dare to come and look on a single man, sitting here as I am, unarmed ? Is it an old woman you have for chief? Go and tell him I shall do him no harm." This had its effect, and presently the valiant warrior came. He was evidently excessively nervous, and so were many of his followers, for they admitted they had never seen a white man before. I found he spoke three languages, and I managed to give him a clear account of our doings and of our object in being in the cou...