be forgotten, and assist us now ! for in you alone we can
look for a preserver.”
At length an armistice was agreed to ; but as no one
dared go to negotiate it but my men, I allowed them to
take pay from the Arabs, which was settled on the 4th by
ten men taking four yards of cloth each, with a promise
of a feast on sweetmeats when they returned. Ex Mrs
Músa, who had been put aside by her husband because
she was too fat for her lord’s taste, then gave me three
men of her private establishment, and abused Müsa for
being wanting in “ brains.” She had repeatedly advised
him to leave this place and go with me, lest the Arabs,
, who were all in debt to him, should put him to death;
but he still hung on to recover his remaining debts, a
portion having been realised by the sale of Snay’s and
Jafii’s effects; for everything in the shape of commodities
had been sold at the enormous price of 500 per cent—the
male slaves even fetching 100 dollars per head, though
the females went for less. The Hottentots now arrived,
with many more of my men, who, seeing their old “flames,”
Snay’s women, sold off by auction, begged me to advance
them money to purchase them with, for they could not
bear to see these women, who were their own when they
formerly stayed here, go off like cattle no one knew where.
Compliance, of course, was impossible, as it would have
crowded the caravan with women. Indeed, to prevent my
men ever thinking of matrimony on the march, as well
as to incite them on through the journey, I. promised, as
soon as we reached Egypt, to give them all wives and
gardens at Zanzibar, provided they did not contract marriages
on the road.
On the 6th, the deputation, headed by Baraka, returned
triumphantly into Kazé, leading in two of Manüa Séra’s
ministers—one of them a man with one eye, whom I called
Cyclops—and two others, ministers of a chief called
Kitambi, or Little Blue Cloth. After going a day’s journey,
they said they came to where Manila Sera was residing
with Kitambi, and met with a most cheerful and kind
reception from both potentates, who, on hearing of my
proposition, warmly acceded to it, issued orders at once
that hostilities should cease, and, with one voice, said they
were convinced that, unless through my instrumentality.
Manda Séra would never regain his possessions. Kitambi
was quite beside himself, and wished my men to stop one
night to enjoy his hospitality. Manila Sera, after reflecting
seriously about the treacherous murder of old
Maula, hesitated, but gave way when it had been explained
away by my men, and said, “ No ; they shall go at once,
for my kingdom depends on the issue, and Bana Mzungu
(the White Lord) may get anxious if they do not return
promptly.” One thing, however, he insisted on, and that
was, the only place he would meet the Arabs in was
Unyanyembé, as it would be beneath his dignity to settle
matters anywhere else. And further, he specified that he
wished all the transactions to take place in Musa’s house.
I Next day, 7th, I assembled all the Arabs at Musa’s
“ court,” with all my men and the two chiefs, four men attending,
when Baraka, “ on his legs,’ told them all I proposed
for the treaty of peace. The Arabs gave their assent
to it ; and Cyclops, for Manua Séra, after giving a full narrative
of the whole history of the war, in such a rapid and
eloquent manner as would have done justice to our Prime
Minister, said his chief was only embittered against Snay,
and now Snay was killed, he wished to make friends with
them. To which the Arabs made a suitable answer, adding,
that all they found fault with was an insolent remark
which, in his wrath, Manila Séra had given utterance to,
that their quarrel with him was owing chiefly to a scurvy
jest which he had passed on them, and on the characteristic
personal ceremony of initiation to their Mussulman
faith. Now, however, as Manila Séra wished to make
friends, they would abide by anything that I might pro