First Expedition. T h e goods were stored, the
dogs chained u p , the riding asses tethered, the
rifles arrayed in the store-room, and the sectional
boat laid under a ro o f close by, on rollers, to
prevent injury from the white ants— a precaution
which, I need hardly sa y , w e had to observe
throughout our journey. Then some more ration
money, sufficient for ten days, had to be distributed
among the men, the young Pococks were
told off to various camp duties to initiate them
to exploring life in Africa, and then, after the
first confusion o f arrival had subsided, I began
to muster the new engages.
But within three hours Bagamoyo was m a
ferment. “ T h e white man has brought all the
robbers, ruffians, and murderers o f Zanzibar to
take possession o f the tow n,” was the rumour
that ran wildly through all the streets, lanes,
courts, and bazaars. Men with blood y faces,
wild, bloodshot e y e s , bedraggled, rumpled and
torn dresses, reeled up to our orderly and nearly
silent quarters, clamouring for rifles and ammunition.
A rabs with drawn swords, and sinewy
Baluchis with match-locks and tinder ready to b e
ignited, came up threatening, and, following them,
a miscellaneous rabble o f excited men, while,
in the background, seethed a mob o f frantic
women and mischievous children.
“ What is the matter?” I asked, scarcely knowing
how to begin to calm this turbulent mass
o f passionate beings.
“ Matter! ” was echoed. “ What is the matter ? ”
was repeated. “Matter enough. The town is
in an uproar. Your men are stealing, murdering,
robbing goods from the stores, breaking plates,
killing our chickens, assaulting everybody, drawing
knives on our women after abusing them,
and threatening to, burn the town and exterminate
everybody. Matter indeed! matter enough!
What do yo u mean b y bringing this savage
rabble from Zanzibar?” So fumed and sputtered
an Arab o f some consequence among the magnates
o f Bagamoyo.
“ Dear me, my friend, this is shocking; terrible.
Pray sit down, and be patient. Sit down here
b y me, and let us talk this over like wise men,”
I said in soothing tones to this en fan t terrib le,
for he really lo o k ed , in feature, dress, and
demeanour, what, had I been an imaginative raw
youth, I should have set down as the “ incarnate
scourge o f A fr ica ,” and he looked wicked enough
with his bare, sinewy arms, his brandished sword,
and fierce black e y e s , to chop off my innocent
head.
The A ra b , with a short nod, accepted my proposition
and seated himself. “ W e are about to
have a S h a u r i — a consultation.” “ Hush there!
S ilence !” “W o rd s !” “ Shauri!” “Words— open
your e ars !” “ S la v e s !” “ F o o ls ! ” “ List, A ra b s !”