notwithstanding the fact of my knowing nothing as to what
the attitude of these Ajawa might be, I had to say a few
words of a reassuring nature. The course I adopted was to
say that they must obey my orders attentively, and then
they would be considered as being my people, in which case
they would in no way be molested.* .
Sleep was very much disturbed by ceaseless snorting and
grunting from the hippos, which in considerable numbers
were pushing their way through the reeds, sporting and
feeding, I might even have been oblivious to their noise,
but it was impossible not to be aware of the presence of
their tiny winged associates, who never left us for à moment,
working diligently through the livelong night, and keeping
up an incessant singing in the ears. Altogether, I was not
sorry when this period of slumbering, scratching, and swearing
was at an end, and the march resumed.
The loads were very light now, for we had no provisions
of any description. Excepting their shields and weapons?
several of the men were empty-handed.
An overpowering heat fell upon us as we pushed our way
through a well-timbered country abounding in large forest
trees, with groves of splendid palms near to the edge of the
lake, which was fringed with a wide band of high green
reeds. A few hours spent in enduring this toilsome march
brought us to a number of gardens where women, old and
young, and children were seen hoeing and making preparations
for the rainy season.
The guide and myself were at some distance ahead of the
party, a circumstance which was the cause of a rather
unfortunate occurrence. High dark forests sheltered the
gardens on the western side from which we appeared.
* Further south, that is to say on the Shiró river, the Angoni could
not go, on account of their previous conduct in slaving raids,
The Angoni, who had loitered in the rear, now observing
that we were about to approach a' village, came running on
in order to overtake me, and request a halt.
Their haste might have brought on the annihilation of
the whole party; for as with shields and clubs they sped
excitedly over the open flat stretching from the forest, their
unlooked-for appearance struck terror into the minds of the
defenceless women, who quickly seized their children and
ran madly off, all the time screaming to their husbands in
the town. At once I saw that a bad move had been made,
and a fight would inevitably be the result.
The Angoni said they would go no further. In the
most strident tones at my command I shouted in Portuguese,
Remember what I told y ou! ” By dint of painstaking
effort, Mara ultimately succeeded in putting a little confidence
in their fickle minds, inducing them to do as I told
them.
Then was seen filing from the tree-fenced town* a thick
black throng of men. On they came, armed to the teeth.
Bows and arrows, flintlocks, spears, and a wonderful assortment
of other weapons could be seen. Old men stalked on,
holding long knives in their hands, generally with the
edges upwards, suggesting the idea that their particular
duty as auxiliaries was the mutilation of the dead and
quick despatch of the wounded. Now when I look back
upon the scene I remember their bearing as being rather-
funny, which it . certainly was not at the time, pushing
along their stiff old carcases over the furrowed ground, and
all the time showing every indication of a wish for direst
vengeance.
In the expression of the people’s faces when they gathered
* Long poles rising twelve feet above the ground entirely fenced and
encircled the town.