He says that he fears that, should he force his Manganja to go, they would leave us on the road, or run away on the first appearance of danger; but this Mobisa man would be going to his own country, and would stick by us.
Meanwhile the chief overstocks us with beer and other food.
_4th October, 1866._--The Mobisa man sent for came, but was so ignorant of his own country, not knowing the names of the chief Babisa town or any of the rivers, that I declined his guidance.

He would only have been a clog on us; and anything about the places in front of us we could ascertain at the villages where we touch by inquiry as well as he could.
A woman turned up here, and persuaded Chuma that she was his aunt.

He wanted to give her at once a fathom of calico and beads, and wished me to cut his pay down for the purpose.

I persuaded him to be content with a few beads for her.

He gave her his spoon and some other valuables, fully persuaded that she was a relative, though he was interrogated first as to his father's name, and tribe, &c., before she declared herself.
It shows a most forgiving disposition on the part of these boys to make presents to those who, if genuine relations, actually sold them.
But those who have been caught young, know nothing of the evils of slavery, and do not believe in its ills.