in to be split up, dried over the fire, and kept for consumption.
Two species, the “ makambara ” and “ go-
go,” were usually taken—the former and largest is
scaleless, large-headed, and lank-bodied; the latter is
only f lb. weight, and resembles a stickleback.
Eats, fleas, and ants very often made our nights
miserable. The calves alongside broke through their
pens, and roused every one, while an alarm of “ seafoo,”
or ants, and “ bring a light,” would be shouted by our
Seedees. In a moment these vicious insects fixed
upon our skin, biting and clinging like leeches till
killed in their death-grip, and it became a desperate
case for us whether we turned out or they turned in !
A line of burning charcoal was placed to scare them
away, and then you could again recline without further
molestation or after-effects. But what was to be done
to prevent their return the following night like an
invading army ? The sultan very properly would not
allow the reckless Seedees to place charcoal round his
house during the night, but he had about a hundred
goats brought in, and kept there three nights and days
to pollute the place and make it obnoxious to the ants,
and this was found to be an effectual remedy for the
time. These ants are no larger than ordinary ones in
England, but bite with the greatest ferocity.
The description given of the sultan at Mineenga
will answer for all the natives in the “ Land of the
Moon,” i. e., “ Unyamuezi.” They are a sottish and
unambitious race, even the best of them, though by no
means incapable of improvement. My friend Ukuli-
ma of Ukuni was a fine old fellow, although he had
his failings. As I resided in the verandah of his
best house, the inside of which was occupied by the
old sultana, some goats, and female servants, he passed
or saw me daily, always saying “ Yambo,” or, if in
extra good-humour, calling me “ Doogo yango,” brother,
or even “ sultan.” Constantly, till I was tired
of him, would he sit by me in my iron chair, greasing
it all over, and playing the fool in various ways, such
as opening the medicine-chest, helping himself to
quinine, which he would put in his beer, or give it to
a neighbour, to have a laugh over its bitter taste.
Lucifer-matches he delighted in seeing lit, though
afraid to light them himself. One day he felt dissatisfied
because I would not give him magic medicine,
and when he left, he with great difficulty put on my
thick shoes, strutted about the village with them, and
collected all the little boys as he trailed his feet on the
ground. If a pigeon was shot, he would be most
childish in begging it of me, saying, “ Go and shoot
another, as I want two.” If this was not done, he
would not be content with the one, but leave it in
a pet, saying, tauntingly, “ There will be pombé
to-morrow.” My Bible, sketch-book, or the book of
birds, he would turn over, smiling at each new leaf or
picture, and asking what it meant. When he saw
that I never asked a fee for the medicines given to his
wives or followers, he thought I must have some object
in it, and redoubled his little kindnesses; or, as I was
so friendly, he would suggest that I should give bim a
recipe by which he could distinguish friends from foes !
He inquired anxiously why we were going on to
Karague; we should get killed. “ The people there
plant their spears in your foot, and demand, ‘ What do
you want?’ You must return to the coast, and I will
send my own son in charge of you.”