were only two lines of little hills visible, one right and
one left of us, a good way off; whilst the ground over
which we were travelling, instead of being confined like
a valley, rose in long high swells of sandstone formation,
covered with small forest-trees, among which flowers
like primroses, only very much larger, and mostly of a
pink colour, were frequently met with. Indeed, we ought
all to have been happy together, for all my men were paid
and rationed trebly—far better than they would have been
if they had been travelling with any one else; but I had
not paid all, as they thought, proportionably, and therefore
there were constant heartburnings, with strikes and
rows every day. It was useless to > tell them that they
were all paid according to their own agreements—that all
short-service men had a right to expect more in proportion
to their work than long-service ones; they called it
all love and partiality, and in their envy would thimk
themselves ill-used.
At night the kirangozi would harangue the camp,
To \m. Z o n i n g hands to keep together on the
line of march, as the Watiita were constantly
hovering about, and the men should not squabble and
fight with their master, else no more white men would
come this way again. On the 11th we were out of
Bogue, in the district of Ugomba, and next march
brought us into Ugombe (12th), where we crossed the
Ukongo nullah, draining westwards to the Malagarazi
river. Here some of the porters, attempting to bolt,
were intercepted by my coast-men and had a fight of it,
for they fired arrows, and in return the coast-men cut
their bows. The whole camp, of course, was in a blaze
at this; their tribe was insulted, and they would not
stand it, until Bombay put down their pride with a few
strings of beads, as the best means of restoring peace in
the camp.
At this place we were visited by the chief of the district,
Pongo (Bush-boc), who had left his palace to see
Halt i3(A and 1113 and invite us his way, for he feared we
Uth- might give him the slip by going west into
Uyofii. He sent us a cow, and said he should like some
return; for Masudi, who had gone ahead, only gave him a
trifle, professing to be our vanguard, and telling him that
as soon as we came with the large caravan we would
satisfy him to his heart’s content. We wished for an
interview, but he would not see us, as he was engaged
looking into his magic horn, with an endeavour to see
what sort of men we were, as none of our sort had ever
come that way before.
The old sort of thing occurred again. I sent him one
kitambi and eight yards kiniki, explaining how fearfully
I was reduced from theft and desertions, and begging he
would have mercy; but instead of doing so, he sent the
things back in a huff, after a whole day’s delay, and said
he required, besides, one sahari, one kitambi, and eight
yards kiniki. In a moment I sent them over, and begged
he would beat the drums; -but no, he thought he was
entitled to ten brass wires in addition, and would accept
them at his palace the next day, as he could not think of
allowing us to leave his country until we had done him
that honour, else all the surrounding chiefs would call him
inhospitable.
Too knowing now to be caught with such chaff) I told
To Pongo’s resi- through Bombay, if he would consider
dence, is tk the ten brass wires final, I would give them,
and then go to his palace, not otherwise. He acceded to
this, but no sooner got them, than he broke his faith, and
said he must either have more pretty cloths, or five more
brass wires, and then, without doubt, he would beat the
drums. A long badgering bargain ensued, at which I
made all my men be present as witnesses, and we finally
concluded the hongo with four more brass wires.
. The drums then no sooner beat the satisfaction, than
\