on ahead would do the same .as Lumerfei; the whole
country was roused. I had not even half enough cloths
to satisfy the Wasiii; and my faithful followers would
never consent to be witness to my being “ torn to
pieces.”
5 th and 6 th.—The whole day and half of the next
went in discussions. At last, able for the first time to
sit up a little, I succeeded in prevailing on Bui to
promise he would go to Usui as soon as the hongo was
settled, provided, as he said, I took on myself all responsibilities
of the result. This cheered me so greatly, I had
my chair placed under a tree and smoked my first pipe.
On seeing this, all my men struck up a dance, to the
sound of the drums, which they carried on throughout
the whole night, never ceasing until the evening of the
next day. These protracted caperings were to be considered
as their congratulation for my improvement in
health; for, until I got into my chair, they always thought
I was going to die. They then told me, with great mirth
and good mimicry, of many absurd scenes which, owing
to the inflamed state of my brain, had taken place during
my interviews with Lumeresi. Bombay at this time
very foolishly told Lumeresi, if he “ really wanted tj a
deole,” he must send to Grant for one. This set the chief
ravin «■. He knew there was one in my box, lie said, and
unless I gave it, the one with Grant must be brought;
for under no circumstances would he allow of my proceeding
northwards until that was given him. Biii and Nasib
then gave me the slip, and slept that night in a neighbouring
boma without my knowledge.
*Ith to 9th.—As things had now gone so far, I gave
Liimeresi the deolti I had stored away for Rumanika,
telling him, at the same time as he took it, that he was
robbing Riimanika, and not myself; but 1 hoped, now I
had given it, he would beat the drums. The scoundrel
only laughed as he wrapped my beautiful silk over his
great broad shoulders, and said, “ Yes, this will complete
our present of friendship; now then for the hongo—I
must have exactly double of all you have given.” This
Sorombo trick I attributed to the instigation of Makaka,
for these savages never fail to take their revenge when
they can. I had doubled back from his country, and now
he was cutting me off in front. I expected as much when
the oily blackguard Mfumbi came over from his chief to
ask after my health; so, judging from my experience with
Makaka, I told Lumeresi at once to tell me what he considered
his due, for this fearful haggling was killing me
by inches. I had no more deolds, but would make that
up in brass wire. He then fixed the hongo at fifteen
masango or brass-wire bracelets, sixteen cloths of sorts,
and a hundred necklaces of sami-sami or red coral beads,
which was to pay for Grant as well as myself. I paid it
down on the spot; the drums beat the “ satisfaction,” and
I ordered the march with the greatest relief of mind
possible.
But Bui and Nasib were not to be found; they had
bolted. The shock nearly killed me. I had walked all
the way to Kaze and back again for these men, to show
mine a gooc] example—had given them pay and treble
rations, the same as Bombay and Baraka—and yet they
chose to desert. I knew not what to do, for it appeared
to me that, do what I would, we would never succeed;
and in my weakness of body and mind I actually cried
like a child over the whole affair. I would rather have
died than have failed in my journey, and yet failure
seemed at this juncture inevitable.
8 th.—As I had no interpreters, and could not go forward
myself, I made up my mind at once to send back
all my men, with Bombay, to Grant; after joining
whom, Bombay would go back to Kaze again for other
interpreters, and on his return would pick up Grant,
and bring him on here. This sudden decision set all