given to it which throws the refuse out; the partially cleared grain is now returned to the mortar, again pounded and cleared of husks, and a semicircular toss of the vessel sends all the remaining unhusked grain to one side, which is lifted out with the hand, leaving the chief part quite clean:  they certainly work hard and well.  The maize requires more labour by far:  it is first pounded to remove the outer scales from the grain, then steeped for three days in water, then pounded, the scales again separated by the shallow-basket tossings, then pounded fine, and the fine white flour separated by the basket from certain hard rounded particles, which are cooked as a sort of granular porridge—­“Mtyelle.”

When Ntaoeka chose to follow us rather than go to the coast, I did not like to have a fine-looking woman among us unattached, and proposed that she should marry one of my three worthies, Chuma, Gardner, or Mabruki, but she smiled at the idea.  Chuma was evidently too lazy ever to get a wife; the other two were contemptible in appearance, and she has a good presence and is buxom.  Chuma promised reform:  “he had been lazy, he admitted, because he had no wife.”  Circumstances led to the other women wishing Ntaoeka married, and on my speaking to her again she consented.  I have noticed her ever since working hard from morning to night:  the first up in the cold mornings, making fire and hot water, pounding, carrying water, wood, sweeping, cooking.

21st June, 1872.—­No jugglery or sleight-of-hand, as was recommended to Napoleon III., would have any effect in the civilization of the Africans; they have too much good sense for that.  Nothing brings them to place thorough confidence in Europeans but a long course of well-doing.  They believe readily in the supernatural as effecting any new process or feat of skill, for it is part of their original faith to ascribe everything above human agency to unseen spirits.  Goodness or unselfishness impresses their minds more than any kind of skill or power.  They say, “You have different hearts from ours; all black men’s hearts are bad, but yours are good.”  The prayer to Jesus for a new heart and right spirit at once commends itself as appropriate.  Music has great influence on those who have musical ears, and often leads to conversion.

[Here and there he gives more items of intelligence from the war which afford a perfect representation of the rumours and contradictions which harass the listener in Africa, especially if he is interested, as Livingstone was, in the re-establishment of peace between the combatants.]

Lewale is off to the war with Mirambo; he is to finish it now!  A continuous fusilade along his line of march west will expend much powder, but possibly get the spirits up.  If successful, we shall get Banyamwezi pagazi in numbers.

Mirambo is reported to have sent 100 tusks and 100 slaves towards the coast to buy gunpowder.  If true, the war is still far from being finished; but falsehood is fashionable.