this means had become reduced to half her market-value,
Lumeresi seized all the cattle this man had brought with
him.
3d to 10th.—When two days had elapsed, one of the
three missing Wahiima women was discovered in a village
close by. As she said she had absconded because
her husband had ill-treated her, she was flogged, to
teach her better conduct. It was reported they had
been seen in M’yonga’s establishment; and I was at the
same time informed that the husbands who were out in
search of them would return, as Myonga was likely to
demand a price for them if they were claimed, in virtue of
their being his rightful property under the acknowledged
law of buni, or findings-keepings.
For the next four days nothing but wars and rumours
of wars could be heard. The Watuta were out in all
directions plundering cattle and burning villages, and the
Wahuma of this place had taken such fright, they made
a stealthy march with all their herds to a neighbouring
chief, to whom it happened that one of Lumeresi’s
grey-beards was on a visit. They thus caught a Tartar;
for the grey-beard no sooner saw them than he went and
flogged them all back again, rebuking them on the way
for their ingratitude to their chief, who had taken them
in when they sought his shelter, and was now deserted by
them on the first alarm of war.
10 th.—Wishing now to gain further intelligence of
Grant, I ordered some of my men to carry a letter
to him; but they all feared the Watuta meeting them
on the way, and would not. Just then a report came
in that one of Lumfirdsi’s sons, who had gone near
the capital of Ukhanga to purchase cows, was seized by
Rohinda in consequence of the Isamiro chief telling him
that Ltimdresi had taken untold wealth from me, and he
was to be detained there a prisoner until Lumerdsi either
disgorged, or sent me on to be fleeced again. Lumeresi,
of course, was greatly perplexed at this, and sought my
advice, but could get nothing out of me, for I laughed in
my sleeve, and told him such was the consequence of his
having been too greedy.
11 tli to 15 th. — Masudi with his caravan arrived
from Mchimeka—Ungurue “ the Pig,” who had led me
astray, was, by the way, his kirangozi or caravan-
leader. Masildi told us he had suffered most severely
from losses by his men running away, one after the other,
as soon as they received their pay. He thought Grant
would soon join me, as, the harvest being all in, the men
about Rungtia would naturally be anxious for service.
He had had fearful work with M’yonga, having paid him a
gun, some gunpowder, and a great quantity of cloth; and
he had to give the same to Rube, with the addition of
twenty brass wires, one load of mzizima, and one load of
red coral beads. This was startling, and induced me to
send all the men I could prudently spare off to Grant at
once, cautioning him to avoid Riihe’s, as Lumeresi had
promised me he would not allow one other thing to be
taken from me. Lumeresi by this time was improving,
from lessons on the policy of moderation which I had been
teaching him; for when he tried to squeeze as much more
out of Masiidi as Ruhe had taken, he gave way, and let
him off cheaply at my intercession. He had seen enough
to be persuaded that this unlimited taxation or plunder
system would turn out a losing game, such as Unyam-
yembd and Ugogo were at that time suffering from.
Moreover, he was rather put to shame by my saying,
“ Pray, who now is biggest—Ruhe or yourself? for any
one entering this country would suspect that he was, as
he levies the first tax, and gives people to understand
that, by their paying it, the whole district will be free to
them; such at any rate,lie told me, and so it appears he
told Mastidi. If you are the sultan, and will take my
advice, I would strongly recommend your teaching Ruhd