Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/333

 they arrange the whole in the form of cones of various sizes, some disposed vertically, others made to project forwards, Livingstone met a chief whose superb tiara, terminating with a little rod, towered to a height of three feet above his head. The only European travellers who have yet penetrated into the Bashukulompo country are Silva Porto and Holub. The latter was fortunately accompanied by his wife, whom the astonished natives took for a supernatural being. She was proclaimed queen by one tribe, and on many occasions her presence saved the expedition from complete disaster.

East of the Bashukulompo territory stretches the North Manica country, a state which is quite distinct from the Manica district on the south side of the Lower Zambese. This region, which is contiguous to the Msiri territory, in the

Upper Congo basin, is governed by a king who, like so many other sovereigns in Nigritia, "never eats;" that is to say, no subject is permitted to enter his residence when he is at table. At his burial several of his wives are slaughtered and interred with him.

In the Barotse empire are met the first centres of population which may be said to possess any commercial or political importance. But most of these towns are displaced with each fresh accession to the throne. All public misfortunes are attributed to the baneful influence of the ground, and a more favourable site is consequently sought in order to escape from the evil spirits who are supposed to have caused the death of the last ruler. The inundations of the Zambese have