nance, lit up with a pleasing expression when in conversation,
confirms this opinion, though a casual
observer passing by that dark, broad, massive face,
still more darkened by a matting of short, close, and
tightly-curled-up ringlets, would be apt to carry away
a contrary impression.*
Before leaving Kazb I notified my intention of
visiting Ukdr^wd, supposing I could do so in three or
four days, and explained to my men my wishes on
this point. Hearing this, they told both Mahaya and
Mansur, in direct terms, that I was going, and so
needlessly set them to work finessing to show how
much they were in earnest in their consideration of
me. However, they have both been very warm in
dissuading me from visiting Ukerewe, apparently
quite in a parental way, for each seems to think himself
in a measure my guardian. Mahaya thinks it his
duty to caution those who visit him from running into
danger, which a journey to Ukerdwb, he considers,
would be. Mansur, on the other hand, says, as I have
come from his Sultan Majid, he also is bound to render
me any assistance in his power; but strongly
advises my giving up the notion of going across the
water. I could get boats from Sukuma, he said, but
there would be great delay in the business, as I should
have first to send over and ask permission from
Machunda to land, and then the collecting men and
boats would occupy a long time.
* Mahaya said he was of Wahinda extraction, or from the princes
of the Wahuma ; bnt this I do not believe, for his features bore the
strongest possible testimony against him.
As regards the collection of boats taking a long
time, these arguments are very fair, as I know from
experience; but the only danger would consist in the
circumstance of the two sultans being at enmity with
each other, as m this land any one coming direct from
an enemy s country is suspected and treated as an
enemy. This difficulty I should have avoided by
going straight to Sukuma (where the boats, I am
inclined to think, usually do start from, though all
concur in stating that this is their point of departure),
and there obtaining boats direct. However, I told
them that I should have gone if I had found boats
ready at once to take me across; but now I saw the
probability of so much delay, that I could not afford
to waste time in trying to obtain boats, which, had I
succeeded in getting, I should have employed my time
not in going to Ukóréwé, but to the more elevated and
friendly island of Mzita, this being a more suitable
observatory than the former. These negroes’ manoeuvres
are quite incomprehensible. If Mahaya had
desired to fleece me—and one can hardly give a despotic
negro credit for anything short of that he
surely would have tried to detain me under false hopes,
and have thus necessitated my spending cloths in his
village; while, on the contrary, he lost all chance of
gaining anything by giving advice which induced me
to leave him at once, never to return again to see him.
At my request, Mahaya assembled all his principal
men, and we went into a discussion about the la k e ;
but not a soul knew anything about its northern