They fear them, and betake themselves to their idols only when in perplexity and danger.
* This is a curious African idiom, by which a person implies he had no particular reason for his act.
While delayed, by Manenko's management, among the Balonda villages, a little to the south of the town of Shinte, we were well supplied by the villagers with sweet potatoes and green maize; Sambanza went to his mother's village for supplies of other food.

I was laboring under fever, and did not find it very difficult to exercise patience with her whims; but it being Saturday, I thought we might as well go to the town for Sunday (15th).

"No; her messenger must return from her uncle first." Being sure that the answer of the uncle would be favorable, I thought we might go on at once, and not lose two days in the same spot.

"No, it is our custom;" and every thing else I could urge was answered in the genuine pertinacious lady style.

She ground some meal for me with her own hands, and when she brought it told me she had actually gone to a village and begged corn for the purpose.