42 tee gongo.
1883. Dualla and Umari, who were in the secret, cried out
Jtme 21. . . '
inganda. soothingly “ Peace, Msenné. Cease grieving; can we
fight without food ? Let us buy food to-day, and tomorrow
we shall go to the war.”
The natives also joined in consolations, and offered
to muster all Inganda and Ikengo for the war, and in
a little time Msenné hushed his sobs, and finally
condescended to smile.
I t was not until we had settled ourselves at Wangata
that the story was told of how Msenné had deceived
Inganda in such an accomplished manner, by our two
young men who had thoroughly relished the performance.
As the boats were being secured to the trees on the
margin of the cove of Upper Irebu, the sounds of
a musketry volley came sharply to our ears. We
inquired what this firing meant.
“ Oh, we got tired of waiting for you so we began
the war again an hour ago.”
After consultation with Mangomho, I sent Dualla
with two boats to Mpika’s landing place, and having
obtained permission from both the contending factions
to stop the war, I then commissioned Dualla and four
of the crew to proceed to the battle field, bearing i the
blue flag with the golden star, the standard of the
Association, high above their heads, that it might be
seen by the respective ambushed warriors. Guided by
Mpika’s advice, they boldly penetrated through the
hostile ranks, and shouted out to them that the peace
palaver was now being held by Bula Matari, and in
WAR. 43
some stubborn cases they had actually seized the guns
and struck them up while they were levelling them to
fire on their enemy. We were not long waiting before
we saw the warriors, of Mangomho returning to their
various huts in the town, presenting themselves to our
inspection as they passed by us grossly garnished with
skins and feathers, and so hideously painted that it was
impossible to conceive a more thorough effort for the
human form’s disfigurement.
The next day, having heard from each chief his
statement of the cause of the war, I spoke to Mpika
and Magwala, asking what benefits they expected from
this strife. I None,” they promptly replied. “ Iboko
killed my people,” said Mpika, “ and I caught eight of
them by a fair chase after them ; let Mangomho do the
same, for he will never get any of mine.” “ And 1/
said Magwala, i will see that he does not.”
To Mangombo, I asked what he expected to gain by
continuing the fight ? '
“ Both of your parties are strong and numerous, and
| if you go on in this manner, mutually destroying one
another, Irebu will become the prey of the Bakuti, or
| the Balui, or the Wabangi. Your friends are also
I friends of your opponents. Your losses to-day, in-
I eluding those who fell at Iboko, are thirty-seven killed,
I and many wounded. You have lost nine stout men in
Border to get four slaves. You are not wise, Mangombo.
1 This kind of trading will ruin you. Let the council be
■ called, and obey the word, otherwise you must go on
■ fighting it out by yourselves.”