I took pains to let them know that they must pray and trust to another
power than mine for aid. We never saw Mburuma himself, and the conduct
of his people indicated very strong suspicions, though he gave us
presents of meal, maize, and native corn. His people never came near us
except in large bodies and fully armed. We had to order them to place
their bows, arrows, and spears at a distance before entering our
encampment. We did not, however, care much for a little trouble now, as
we hoped that, if we could pass this time without much molestation,
we might yet be able to return with ease, and without meeting sour,
suspicious looks.

The soil, glancing every where with mica, is very fertile, and all the
valleys are cultivated, the maize being now in ear and eatable. Ranges
of hills, which line both banks of the river above this, now come close
up to each bank, and form a narrow gorge, which, like all others of the
same nature, is called Mpata. There is a narrow pathway by the side of
the river, but we preferred a more open one in a pass among the hills to
the east, which is called Mohango. The hills rise to a height of 800
or 1000 feet, and are all covered with trees. The rocks were of various
colored mica schist; and parallel with the Zambesi lay a broad band
of gneiss with garnets in it. It stood on edge, and several dikes of
basalt, with dolerite, had cut through it.

Mburuma sent two men as guides to the Loangwa. These men tried to bring
us to a stand, at a distance of about six miles from the village, by the
notice, "Mburuma says you are to sleep under that tree." On declining
to do this, we were told that we must wait at a certain village for a
supply of corn. As none appeared in an hour, I proceeded on the march.
It is not quite certain that their intentions were hostile, but this
seemed to disarrange their plans, and one of them was soon observed
running back to Mburuma. They had first of all tried to separate our
party by volunteering the loan of a canoe to convey Sekwebu and me,
together with our luggage, by way of the river, and, as it was pressed
upon us, I thought that this was their design. The next attempt was to
detain us in the pass; but, betraying no suspicion, we civilly declined
to place ourselves in their power in an unfavorable position. We
afterward heard that a party of Babisa traders, who came from the
northeast, bringing English goods from Mozambique, had been plundered by
this same people.