told not to fear; all would be returned me: ‘ to go
and reside in the village of his son, where all would
be brought.’ On proceeding thither I found that the
natives had dressed themselves out in the stolen
clothes of our men. I felt like a prisoner; my bright
hopes were wrecked; and they all laughed at me as
I stood amongst the mob of insolent marauders jeering
and exulting at their triumph. Very little at that
moment would have set things in a blaze; but though
honour was dear, the safety of the expedition was so
also, and one false step would have endangered it.
They threatened, presenting assigais at my breast; but
though I was defenceless, my rifle in its case resting
harmlessly on my shoulder, they did not venture to
strike, but scattered over the place.
Fifteen of my 55 loads were returned during the
day; 15 of 56 porters reappeared; two Wezees were
reported killed, but instead of finding even a trace
of them, I came upon three others concealed in the
grass with their loads. Myonga was said to be infuriated
at his people; he had cut off the hand of
one of his men, and promised that all, except the
property of my porters, should be restored. The following
night the sultan sent, saying everything in
his possession had been given up, but by my account
there were still wanting six bead-loads, some cloth, my
teapot, looking-glass, basin, pewter mug, a saw, a goat,
&c. Every load was partially plundered; our most
private keepings had been ruthlessly handled; and
cases were destroyed by rocks and stones in trying to
break them open. My porters, who had received their
full hire to Karague, deserted; the march was delayed
; and we had all been dishonoured. On making
this representation to the sultan, he expressed great
sympathy at first, saying, ‘Your property will all be
restored, and you shall have men from me to convey
your goods to Karague.’ This was a mere ruse. In
four days after the attack I was in a position, by aid
sent me from Speke, to march ahead; but the Wezees
said, ‘ If you attempt a forced march, and leave without
obtaining the sultan’s permission, we will run
away.’ In reply to my request to be allowed to leave
his country, saying I was satisfied with having recovered
so much, he very coolly replied, ‘ I want no
present from you, but must have your Seedees with
their guns to aid me in an attack against a neighbour
of mine.’ But though two of my men volunteered
to go, intending to escape from him during
the night, the proposal seemed preposterous; and,
to settle the affair, a scarlet blanket was taken from
my bedding and sent to the sultan, along with some
other cloths. These were returned contemptuously,
with a message that I must aid him with men and
guns. The Seedees would not hear of my going
to see this ruffian of a sultan, neither could they manage
him themselves; their remonstrances and pleadings
had become stale. The natives in the mean time
were boisterous, refusing our bead coinage. I tried to
make use of my rifle in the jungles, but failed to get
anything. In my rounds I only saw the brutality of the
people towards travellers in pouncing upon a party of
four women and two men, demanding their bows and
arrows, which I saved by interference. Again, the
coarse fellows struck so brutally a donkey which Speke
had with him on his former journey to Lake Nyanza,
that the animal, then in foal, died. For this no re