[The Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death, Volume I (of 2), 1866-1868 by David Livingstone]@TWC D-Link bookThe Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death, Volume I (of 2), 1866-1868 CHAPTER XI 40/42
They read the Koran very industriously, and prayed for success or luck in leaving, and seem sincerely religious, according to the light that is in them.
The use of incense and sacrifices brings back the old Jewish times to mind. A number of people went off to the Kanengwa, a rivulet an hour south of this, to build huts; there they are to take leave of Casembe, for the main body goes off to-morrow, after we have seen the new moon. They are very particular in selecting lucky days, and anything unpleasant that may have happened in one month is supposed to be avoided by choosing a different day for beginning an enterprise in the next.
Mohamad left Uvira on the third day of a new moon, and several fires happened in his camp; he now considers a third day inauspicious. Casembe's dura or sorghum is ripe to-day: he has eaten mapemba or dura, and all may thereafter do the same: this is just about the time when it ripens and is reaped at Kolobeng, thus the difference in the seasons is not great. _24th May, 1868._--Detained four days yet.
Casembe's chief men refuse to escort Mohamad Bogharib; they know him to be in debt, and fear that he may be angry, but no dunning was intended.
Casembe was making every effort to get ivory to liquidate it, and at last got a couple of tusks, which he joyfully gave to Mohamad: he has risen much in the estimation of us all. _26th May, 1868._--Casembe's people killed five buffaloes by chasing them into the mud and water of Mofwe, so he is seeing to the division of the meat, and will take leave to-morrow. _28th May, 1868._--We went to Casembe; he was as gracious as usual.
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