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>"The traveller searched in his bag and produced from it some dried leaves of tobacco and a little packet of seeds.
>“Men of Bushongo,' he said solemnly, 'thank me from the bottom of your hearts, for I have brought you this.'
>"The elders passed the leaves from hand to hand and shook their heads; one of them said sternly:"
>'Do you think, Lusana Lumunbala, that this is the time for jesting? What good is this weed to us?'
>“I fear,' said another mockingly, 'that this man has not gained anything by his much-vaunted travels, and that the hardships which they have entailed have made him lose something... .'And he tapped his head significantly.
>“Lusana Lumunbala smiled. 'I have not lost my reason, o elders of Misumba, for this weed of which I have brought you a sample is very precious indeed.'
>"Is it good to eat?
>'It is not.
>'Is it a remedy for some sickness?'
>'It soothes them all. Its smoke, when inhaled, is to the suffering soul as a mother's caress to an ailing child.'
>"Saying so, he took a pipe out of his bag, filled it with a little tobacco, kindled it with some embers, and began to smoke, and as he did so his countenance beamed with happiness.
>"The elders talked all at once: 'Surely our brother has become demented; he now eateth fire and drinketh smoke.'
>“But one of them, more courageous than the others, asked him to let him try this wonderful weed, and taking the pipe inhaled a big whiff of smoke. He was taken with a violent fit of choking and fell to the ground gasping for breath. When he recovered he abused the traveller, and threatened him with his fist.
