102 HABITS AND CUSTOMS.

the circumstances of the case, which he faithfully related. Convinced of the injustice of my servant, I endeavoured to pacify the negro, and assured him that I would punish the former. All my persuasion was, however, in vain ; he foamed with rage, and replied, that we should both suffer for this act.

Seeing that he was too weak to offer battle to us both, he ran away in an instant, loudly uttering his war-cry of " Lu, lu, lu !"* This was an ill omen for us, and put us both in no slight degree of fear.

Flight was out of the question, we had no chance of thus escaping. I, therefore, set my wits to work to devise a remedy, to avert at least the first outbreak of our enemies rage. I bound my servant hand and foot with a cord, and taking up the branch of a tree which lay near me pretended to beat him most unmercifully ; he played his part remarkably well, and screamed as if he were being impaled, whenever I made the slightest movement with my hand ; for we already descried a crowd of natives at the distance, running towards us, their lances glittering in the evening sun, and the shouts of the women, who followed in the wake of the men, boded us no good ; but the nearer they approached the better we played our parts ; and my servant continued his screams until he was fairly out of * Lu, lu, lu ! This cry has a triple signification. It expresses joy, grief, and danger, and serves also as an encouragement in battle. The intonation of these sounds determines the difference of their import. It may be readily recognised when it has been frequently heard, but cannot be described.