live with them, and would not come back again even when
tbe “ storm bad blown over,” because tbey did not like
tbe incessant rains tbat balf deluged tbe camp. Tbe cbief,
too, said be would not sell us bis donkeys, lest we should
give them back to Mohinna, from whom tbey were taken
during bis fight here. Intrigues of all sorts I could see
were brewing, possibly at tbe instigation of tbe fugitive
Wanyamüézi, who suspected we were bound to side with
tbe Arabs—possibly from some Qther cause, I could not
tell what ; so, to clear out of this pandemonium as soon
as possible, I issued cloths to buy double rations, intending
to cross tbe wilderness by successive relays in double
tbe ordinary number of days. I determined at the same
time to send forward two freed men to Kazé to ask Müsa
and tbe Arabs to send me out some provisions and men
to meet us half-way.
Matters grew worse and worse. Tbe sultan, now finding
me unable to move, sent a message to say
if I would not give him some better cloths to
make bis bongo more respectable, be would attack my
camp; and advised all the Wanyamüézi who regarded
their lives not to go near me if I resisted. This was by
no means pleasant ; for tbe porters showed their uneasiness
by extracting their own cloths from my bundles,
under tbe pretext tbat tbey wished to make some purchases
of their own. I ought, perhaps, to have stopped this ; but
I thought tbe best plan was to show total indifference ; so,
at tbe same time tbat tbey were allowed to take their
cloths, I refused to comply with tbe chief’s request, and
begged them to have no fear so long as they saw I could
bold my own ground with my guns.
The Wanyamüézi, however, were panic-stricken, and
balf of them bolted, with tbe kirangozi at their bead,
carrying off all tbe double-ration cloths as well as their
own. At this time, tbe sultan, having changed tactics, as
be saw us all ready to stand on tbe defensive, sent back
bis bongo; but, instead of using threats, said be would
oblige us with donkeys or anything else if we would only
give him a few more pretty cloths. With this cringing,
perfidious appeal I refused to comply, until tbe sheikh,
still more cringing, implored me to give way, else not a
single man would remain with me. I then told him to
settle with tbe cbief himself, and give me tbe account,
which amounted to three barsati, two sahari, and three
yards merikani ; but tbe donkeys were never alluded to.
With half my men gone, I still ordered tbe march,
though strongly opposed to tbe advice of one
To Camp, l Z l h . „ , , of old Mambas men, who was then passmg
by on bis way to tbe coast, in command of bis master’s
rear detachment. He thought it impossible for us to pull
through tbe wilderness, with its jungle grasses and roots,
depending for food only on Grant’s gun and my own;
still we made half-way to tbe Mdaburu nullah, taking
some of Mamba’s out to camp with us, as be promised to
take letters and specimens down to tbe coast for us, provided
I paid him some cloths as ready money down, and
promised some more to be paid at Zanzibar. These letters
eventually reached home, but not tbe specimens.
Tbe rains were so heavy tbat tbe whole country was
now flooded, but we pushed on to tbe nullah
To camp, n t h . ^ r e l a y Sj and pitched on its left bank. In
tbe confusion of tbe march, however, we lost many more
porters, who at tbe same time relieved us of their loads,
by slipping off stealthily into tbe bush.
Tbe fifteenth was a forced halt, as tbe stream was so
deep and so violent we could not cross it.
Halt five days. m i - i i i* i • o lo make the best ot this very imlortunate
interruption, I now sent on two men to Kazd, with letters
to Musa and Sheikh Snay, both old friends on the former
expedition, begging them to send me sixty men, each
carrying thirty rations of grain, and some country tobacco.
The tobacco was to gratify my men, who said of all things