district of Nzasa, where there is another small village
To Ikambtira, presided over by Phanzd Khombd la Simba,
ith- meaning Claw of Lion. He, immediately
after our arrival, sent us a present of a basket of rice,
value one dollar, of course expecting a return—for absolute
generosity is a thing unknown to the negro. Not
being aware of the value of the offering, I simply requested
the Sheikh to give him four yards of American
sheeting, and thought no more about the matter, until
presently I found the cloth returned. The “ Sultan” could
not think of receiving such a paltry present from me, when
on the former journey he got so much; if he showed this
cloth at home, nobody would believe him, but would say
he took much more and concealed it from his family,
wishing to keep all his goods to himself. I answered that
my footing in the country had been paid for on the last
journey, and unless he would accept me as any other common
traveller, he had better walk away; but the little
Sheikh, a timid, though very gentlemanly creature, knowing
the man, and dreading the consequences of too high a
tone, pleaded for him, and proposed as a fitting hongo,
one dubuani, one sahari, and eight yards merikani,* as the
American sheeting is called here. This was pressed by the
jemadar, and acceded to by myself, as the very utmost I
could afford. Lion’s Claw, however, would not accept i t ;
it was too far below the mark of what he got last time.
He therefore returned the cloths to the Sheikh, as he could
get no hearing from myself, and retreated in high dudgeon,
threatening the caravan with a view of his terrible
presence on the morrow. Meanwhile the little Sheikh,
who always carried a sword fully two-thirds the length of
himself, commenced casting bullets for his double-barrelled
rifle, ordered the Wangiiana to load their guns, and came
wheedling up to me for one more cloth, as it was no use
hazarding the expedition’s safety for four yards of cloth.
* See Appendix B.
This is a fair specimen of tax-gathering, within twelve
miles of the coast, by a native who claims the protection
of Zanzibar. We shall soon see what they are further on.
The result of experience is, that, ardent as the traveller is
to see the interior of Africa, no sooner has he dealings with
the natives, than his whole thoughts tend to discovering
some road where he won’t be molested, or a short cut, but
long march, to get over the ground.
Quite undisturbed, we packed and marched as usual,
and soon passed Nzasa close to the river, To Kizoto, 5 t h . i * i . _ . _, n. ’ which is only indicated by a line of trees
running through a rich alluvial valley. We camped at
the little settlement of Kizoto, inhospitably presided over
by Phanze Mukia ya Nyani, or Monkey’s Tail, who no
sooner heard of our arrival than he sent a demand for his
“ rights.” One dubuani was issued, with orders that no
one need approach me again, unless he wanted to smell
my powder. Two taxes in five miles was a thing unheard
of; and I heard no more about the matter, until Bombay
in the evening told me how Sheikh Said, fearing awkward
consequences, had settled to give two dubuani, one being
taken from his own store. Lion’s Claw also turned up
again, getting his cloths of yesterday—one more being
added from the Sheikh’s stores—and he was then advised
to go off quietly, as I was a fire-eater whom nobody dared
approach after my orders had been issued. This was our
third march in Uzaramo; we had scarcely seen a man of
;the country, and had no excessive desire to do so.
Deflecting from the serpentine course of the Kingani a
TaKiranga little, we crossed a small bitter rivulet, and
entered on the elevated cultivation of Kiranga
Kanga, under Phanze Mkungu-pard, a very mild man,
iyho, wishing to give no offence, begged for a trifling
present. He came in person, and his manner having
pleased us, I gave him one sahari, four yards merikani, and
eight yards kmiki, which pleased our friend so much that