‘shaves’ are so common in Africa. Besides, a man has
but ene life, and God is the director of everything.”
“ Bravo!” said L “ we will get on as long as you keep to
that way of thinking.”
At length a guide was obtained, and with him came
some of those men of the Pig’s who returned before; for
they had a great desire to go with me, but had been
deterred, they said, by Baraka and the rest of my men.
Seeing all this, 1 changed my plans again, intending, on
arrival at Baraka’s camp, to prevail on the whole of the
party to go with me direct, which I thought they could
not now refuse, since Süwarora had sent us an invitation.
Moreover, I did not like the idea of remaining still whilst
the three men went forward, as it would be losing time.
These separations from Grant were most annoying, but
they could not be helped; s q , when all was settled here, I
bade him adieu—both of us saying we would do our best
—and set out on my journey, thinking what a terrible
thing it was I could not prevail on my men to view things
as I did. Neither my experience with native chiefs, nor
my money and guns, were of any use to me, simply because
my men were such incomprehensible fools, though
many of them who had travelled before ought to have
known better.
More reports came to us about Süwarora, all of the
most inviting nature; but nothing else worth mentioning
occurred until we reached the border of Msalala, where an
officer of M’yonga’s, who said he was a bigger man than
his chief, demanded a tax, which I refused, and the dispute
ended in his snatching Nasib’s gun out of his hands.
I thought little of this affair myself, beyond regretting the
delay which it might occasion, as M’yonga, I knew, would
not permit such usage, if I chose to go round by his palace
and make a complaint. Both Bui and Nasib, however, were
so greatly alarmed, that before I could say a word they
got the gun back again by paying four yards merikani.