“As all the residents had at different times contracted
debts to different members of the body present, there
was no appeal against the equity of this sudden demand,
but no one had the means of payment. They
knew fighting against firearms would be hopeless , so
after a few stratagems, looking for a good opportunity
to bolt, the whole village took to precipitate flight.
Most of the villagers were captured like myself; but
of my father, or any other relatives, I never more
gained any intelligence. He was either shot in endeavouring
to defend himself, or still more probably
gave leg-bail, and so escaped. As soon as this foray
was over, all the captives were grouped together, and
tethered with chains or ropes, and marched off to
TCilna.j on the east coast (in latitude 9° S.) Arrived
there, the whole party embarked in dhows, which, setting
sail, soon arrived at Zanzibar. We were then
driven to the slave-market, where I was bought by
an Arab merchant, and taken off to India. I served
with this master for several years, till by his death
I obtained my liberation. My next destination was
Zanzibar, where I took service in the late Imaum’s
army, and passed my days in half-starved inactivity,
Tin til the lucky day when, at Chongue, you saw and
gave me service.”
Shortly after we had encamped under the rendezvous
tree, and begun our cooking, some villagers
brought ivories of the elephant and hippopotamus for
sale, but had to suffer the disappointment of meeting
a stranger to merchandise, and straightway departed,
fully convinced that all Wazungu (or wise, or white
men) were mere fools for not making money, when
they had so good an opportunity. Noon and evening
passed without a sign of the black captain or the remaining
men. We were in a wretched place for a
halt, a sloping ploughed field; and, deceived by the
captain’s not keeping his promise, were unprepared for
spending the night there. I pitched my tent, but the
poor men had nothing to protect them. With the
darkness a deluge of rain descended; and, owing to
the awkwardness of our position, the surcharged earth
poured off a regular stream of water over our beds,
baggage, and everything alike. To keep the tent
erect—a small gable-shaped affair, six feet high, and
seven by six square, made of American sheeting, and
so light that with poles and everything complete it
barely weighs one man’s load—I called up the men,
and for hours held it so by strength of arm. Even
the hippopotami, to judge by the frequency of their
snorts and grunts, as they indulged in their devastating
excursions amongst the crops, seemed angry at
this unusual severity of the weather. Never from the
15 th of November, when the rainy season commenced,
had we experienced such a violent and heavy downpour.
Mh.— Halt. The morning is no improvement on
the night. The captain now arrives with most of the
remaining crew, fears the troubled waters, and will
not put out to sea. In consequence of this disappointment,
a messenger is sent back to Kaw^ld, to fetch