then went up to Kalai again.

On passing up we had a view of the hut on the island where my goods had
lain so long in safety. It was under a group of palm-trees, and Sekeletu
informed me that, so fully persuaded were most of the Makololo of the
presence of dangerous charms in the packages, that, had I not returned
to tell them the contrary, they never would have been touched. Some of
the diviners had been so positive in their decisions on the point,
that the men who lifted a bag thought they felt a live kid in it. The
diviners always quote their predictions when they happen to tally with
the event. They declared that the whole party which went to Loanda had
perished; and as I always quoted the instances in which they failed,
many of them refused to throw the "bola" (instruments of divination)
when I was near. This was a noted instance of failure. It would have
afforded me equal if not greater pleasure to have exposed the failure,
if such it had been, of the European diviner whose paper lay a whole
year on this island, but I was obliged to confess that he had been
successful with his "bola", and could only comfort myself with the idea
that, though Sir Roderick Murchison's discourse had lain so long within
sight and sound of the magnificent falls, I had been "cut out" by no one
in their discovery.

I saw the falls at low water, and the columns of vapor when five or six
miles distant. When the river is full, or in flood, the columns, it
is said, can be seen ten miles off, and the sound is quite distinct
somewhat below Kalai, or about an equal distance. No one can then go
to the island in the middle. The next visitor must bear these points in
mind in comparing his description with mine.

We here got information of a foray which had been made by a Makololo man
in the direction we were going. This instance of marauding was so much
in accordance with the system which has been pursued in this country
that I did not wonder at it. But the man had used Sekeletu's name as
having sent him, and, the proof being convincing, he would undoubtedly
be fined. As that would be the first instance of a fine being levied
for marauding, I looked upon it as the beginning of a better state of
things. In tribes which have been accustomed to cattle-stealing, the act
is not considered immoral in the way that theft is. Before I knew the
language well, I said to a chief, "You stole the cattle of so and so."
"No, I did not steal them," was the reply