and daughter-in-law of the sultan pierced his neck
and chest, and he was drawn out by one leg like a
dog through the gate. The woman who committed
this act came in fear to me at night, saying, “ Give
me protection : it is said I am to he killed for stabbing
the adulterer.” Though for the moment I detested the
woman, I endeavoured to calm her by saying my guns
would be her protection, and my men should sleep in
her house. On asking her “ Why did you soil your
hands with such a deed ? ” she replied, in the most
animated way, “ Oh, did I not glory in i t ! did the
fellow not come to my bedside one night making propositions
to me, and I never could get hold of him
since ? ” The following day she, as usual, wished me
good-morning, but I shuddered to think that so handsome
a woman and so kind a mother, with four beautiful
children who must have seen all, could have
committed such an act. The woman who had offended
was a middle-aged good-looking person. Nothing
whatever was done to her, though she had once before
been the cause of a man’s death under similar
circumstances. Previous to this event she would
come often to look at herself in my mirror, but afterwards
I did not see so much of her.
Several of our men made brotherhood with the
Wezees, and the process between Bombay and the
sultan’s son, Keerenga, may be mentioned. My consent
having been given, a mat is spread, and a confidential
party or surgeon attends on each. All
four squat, as if to have a game at whist; before
them are two clean leaves, a little grease, and a
spear-head; a cut is made under the ribs of the
left side of each party, a drop of blood put on a
leaf and exchanged by the surgeons, who rub it
with butter twice into the wound with the leaf,
which is now torn in pieces and strewn over the
“ brothers’ ” heads. A solemn address is made by the
older of the attendants, and they conclude the ceremony
by rubbing their own sides with butter, shaking
hands, and wishing each other success. Ten rounds of
ammunition are then fired off; a compliment from
each of the four drums is sounded, and they parade
the village all the afternoon. This was the form observed
by the Wanyamuezi. An Uganda lad, the
magician of the sultan, made brotherhood with Rehan,
the cook, by cutting marks on his chest and rubbing
in the fat of lions. This young wizard of Uganda,
with his bamboo tube, could blow away all the
enemies of the sultan, or, if persuaded to go out shooting
with you, a second blast from his trumpet would
make the animals of the forest stand before you!
The last of their unintelligible customs I sha.fi mention,
was that of a number of men amusing themselves
by running fast through and about the village, singing,
at every third or fourth step, “ Queri” or § Hairy,” and
“ Queri Mahamba.” I had seen the same custom across
country, outside the village; and on the nights of this
great stir, dancing would also take place.
To give a description of the difficulties and disappointments
we experienced for nearly four months in
procuring men to carry our luggage, would be tiresome.
I shall only mention a few instances. Speke was away
sixty miles in advance of me with a portion of the property:
neither he nor I could proceed a step; we were
like two planets compelled by a fixed law to preserve
our distances. He resolved on making a flying march