and they would have been here now, only that one of
them fell sick on the way, and the rest had to stop for
him. I cannot say what pleasure this gave me; my
fortune, I thought, was made ; and so I told Baraka, who,
instead of rejoicing with me, only shook his head at it,
and pretended he did not believe the news to he true.
Without loss of time I wrote off to Grant, and got thfese
men to carry the letter.
Next day (22d) the Wasui from Suwarora arrived.
They were a very gentle, nice-dispositioned-looking set' of
men—small, but well knit together. They advanced to
my tent with much seeming grace; then knelt at my
feet, and began clapping their hands together, saying, at
the same time, “ My great chief, my great chief, I hope
you are well; for Suwarora, having heard of your detention
here, has sent us over to assure you that all those
reports that have been circulated regarding his ill-treatment
of caravans are without foundation; he is sorry for
what has happened to deter your march, and hopes you
will at once come to visit him.” I then told them all that
had happened—how Grant and myself were situated—
and begged them to assist me by going off to Grant’s
camp to inspire all the men there with confidence, and
bring my rear property to me—saying, as they agreed to
do so, “ Here are some cloths and some beads for your
expenses, and when you return I will give you more.”
Baraka at once, seeing this, told me they were not trustworthy,
for at Mihambo an old man had come there and
tried to inveigle him in the same manner, but he kicked
him out of the camp, because he knew he was a touter,
who wished merely to allure him with sweet words to
fleece him afterwards. I then wrote to Grant another
letter to be delivered by these men.
Lumeresi no sooner heard of the presents I had given
them, than he flew into a passion, called them impostors,
abused them for not speaking to him before they came to
me, and said he would not allow them to go. High
words then ensued. I said the business was mine, and
not his; he had no right to interfere, and they should go.
Still Lumeresi Avas obstinate, and determined they should
not, for I was his guest; he would not alloAV any one to
defraud me. It was a great insult to himself, if true, that
Sixwarora should attempt to snatch me out of his house;
and he could not bear to see me take these strangers by
the hand, when, as we have seen, it took him so long to
entice me to his den, and he could not prevail over me
until he actually sent his copper hatchet.
When this breeze blew over, by Lumeresi’s Avalking
away, I told the Wasui not to mind him, but to do just
as I bid them. They said they had their orders to bring
me, and if Lumeresi would not allow them to go for Grant,
they would stop where they were, for they knew that if
Suwarora found them delaying long, he would send more
men to look after them. There was no peace yet, Iioav-
ever; for Lumeresi, finding them quietly settled down
eating with my men, ordered them out of his district,
threatening force if they did not comply at once. I tried
my best for them, but the Wasui, fearing to stop any
longer, said they would take leave to see Suwarora, and in
eight days more they would come back again, bringing
something with them, the sight of which would make
Liimeresi quake. Further words Avere now useless, so I
gave them more cloth to keep them up to the mark, and
sent them off. Baraka, Avko seemed to think this generosity
a bit of insanity, grumbled that if I had cloths to
throw away it would have been better had I disposed of
them to my oAvn men.
Next day (26th), as I was still unwell, I sent four men to
Grant Avith inquiries how he was getting on, and a request
for medicines. The messengers took four days to bring
back the information that Bombay had not returned from
Kaze, but that Grant, having got assistance, hoped to