the Wasui mace-bearers, in the most feeling and. good-
mannered possible manner, dropped down on their knees
before me, and congratulated me on the cessation of this
tormenting business. Feeling much freer, we now went
over and put up in Pongo’s palace, for we had to halt
there a day to collect more porters, as half my men had
just bolted. This was by no means an easy job, for all my
American sheeting was out, and so was the kiuiki. Pongo
then for the first time showed himself, sneaking about
with an escort, hiding his head in a cloth lest our “ evil
eyes ” might bewitch him. Still he did us a good turn;
for on the 16 th he persuaded his men to take service with
us at the enormous hire of ten necklaces of beads per man
for every day’s march—nearly ten times what an Arab
pays. Fowls were as plentiful here as elsewhere, though
the people only kept them to sell to travellers, or else for
cutting them open for divining purposes, by inspection of
their blood and bones.
From the frying-pan we went into the fire in crossing
ToN’ysr«- from Ugombe into the district of Wanga,
wamba’s, 17th. wpere we pea£ Up the chief, N’yar&wamba,
and at once went into the hongo business. He offered a
cow to commence with, which I would not accept until
the tax was paid, and then I made my offering of two
wires, one kitambi, and one kistitii. Badgering then commenced
: I must add two wires, and six makete or necklaces
of mzizima beads, the latter being due to the chief
for negotiating the tax. When this addition was paid, we
should be freed by beat of drum.
I complied at once, by way of offering a special mark
of respect and friendship, and on the reliance that he
would keep his word. The scoundrel, however, no sooner
got the articles, than he said a man had just come there
to inform him that I gave Pongo ten wires and ten cloths;
he, therefore, could not be satisfied until I added one more
wire, when, without fail, he would beat the drums. It was
given, after many angry words; but it was the old story
over again—he would have one more wire and a cloth, or
else he would not allow us to proceed on the morrow.
My men, this time really provoked, said they would fight
it out;—a king breaking his word in that way! But in
the end the demand had to be paid; and at last, at 9 p .m.,
the drums beat the satisfaction.
From this we went on to the north end of Wanga, in
To border of front of which was a wilderness, separating
ukbanga, 18«. jjj,, possessions of Rohinda from those of
Suwarora. We put up in a boma, but were not long
ensconced there when the villagers got up a pretext for a
quarrel, thinking they could plunder us of all our goods,
and began pitching into my men. We, however, proved'
more than a match for them. Our show of guns frightened
them all out of the place; my men then gave chase, firing
off in the air, which sent them flying over the fields, and
left us to do there as we liked until night, when a few of
the villagers came back and took up their abode with us
quietly. Next, after dark, the little village was on the
alert again. The Watuta were out marching, and it was
rumoured that they were bound for N’yaruwamba’s. The
porters who were engaged at Pongo’s now gave us the slip;
we were consequently detained here next day (19th),
when, after engaging a fresh set, we crossed-the wilderness,
and in Usui put up with Stiwarora’s border officer of
this post, N’yamanira.
Here we were again brought to a standstill.