Page 58 - SoMJ Vol 74 - No 1, 2021

48 The Society of Malaŵi Journal

selected. [Chief Mwasi evaded capture and was later reported to have committed
suicide].
The above-mentioned wounded men [not listed] I left behind as part of
the garrison under charge of Sergt. Major Ali Kiongwe.
During the day, Mr. Swann had been making arrangements with the
friendly chief Kirowa to provide porters for the column which was to start the
following day for Kajura. In the evening the whole of both Chibisa’s and Mwasi’s
towns were destroyed and burnt.
nd
Mr. Swann left Mwasi’s for Kota Kota at 7 a.m. on the 2 January. The
column started for Kajura at 11 a.m. I was unable to start earlier owing to the fact
that the carriers from Kirowa’s arrived very late and then I had not the requisite
numbers. I therefore had to send to Mangwasi, the above-mentioned chief, for
additional men.
In the afternoon while marching through the forest from a southerly
direction, the advance guard surprised a party of Mwasi’s people. They fired off
a number of guns and then ran off. Near the place where they had been encamped
was found a tusk of ivory which was found to weigh 67lbs. We encamped that
night at an open glade in the forest, arriving at 7 p.m. The march was resumed at
rd
6.30 a.m. on the following day the 3 inst. the camping ground being in the forest.
th
On the 4 inst. we emerged from the forest and came to several villages, the
inhabitants of which had never seen a white man before, and they were
consequently rather disturbed and in one case, at the big village of Mkasa, were
inclined to be hostile the advance guard being met by all the inhabitants armed
with bows and arrows and spears. The chief at first was most unfriendly and I
halted the column about half a mile from his village and then went to the chief to
explain the intention. We parted in a most friendly way, the chief handing me over
two cows to give as a present to the head white man, viz. the Commissioner.
In the evening we arrived at the very large town and boma of Zoli, the
head chief of the Achewa. He was most friendly, and hearing of our approach had
sent out a few men with messages of welcome; his town is the largest I have as
yet seen and the population enormous. The column marched right through the
town being received with clapping of hands and expressions of welcome.
I found the chief Zoli waiting to see me in a park-like piece of ground
just outside the boma wall. He was of most extraordinary build being so stout that
he can only with difficulty walk. He was seated on a mat and on his right was his
principal wife. To his right and left but behind him sat his headmen and behind
them sat about 100 of his people. In front was another most interesting man. The
chief after having expressed his joy at the downfall of Mwasi spoke about the
Angoni whom he said were constantly raiding his people and that naturally,
whenever the Angoni came to raid him, he would always go and do likewise, but
he felt that he was becoming weaker than his enemies and he wished to have no
more war and asked me on my way down to Kirowa to speak with Chiwere, the