mistakable. T h e y appeared to be quarrelling
d o g g ed ly with those who had received cloth
for the milk, and were evidently ready to fight
with them i f th ey persisted in retiring without
bloodshed.
In the midst o f this, Soudi, a youth o f Zanzibar,
came hastily upon the scene. He had a
javelin gash near the right elbow-joint, and a
slight cut as though from a flying spear was
visible on his left side, while a ghastly wound
from a whirling knobstick had laid open his
temples. He reported his brother Suliman as
lying dead near the forest, to the west o f the
camp.
W e decided, - nevertheless, to do nothing.
W e were strong disciples o f the doctrine o f forbearance,
for it seemed to me then as if L ivingstone
had taught it to me only the day before.
“ Keep silence,” I said; “ even for this last murder
I shall not fight; when they attack the camp, it
will be time enough then.” T o Frank I simply
said that he might distribute twenty rounds o f
ammunition without noise to each man, and dispose
our p a r ty on either side o f the gate, ready
for a charge should the natives determine upon
attacking us.
The loudly arguing mob had not y e t settled
conclusively what they should, do, and possibly,
hostilities might have been averted, had not the
murderers o f young Suliman, advancing redhanded
and triumphant, extorted from all the
unanimous opinion that it would be better after
all to fight “ the 'cowardly Wangwana and the
white men, who were evidently only women.”
T h e y quickly disposed themselves, delivered
loud whoops.^ o f triumph, prepared their bows,
and shot their first arrows. The Wangwana b e came
restless, but I restrained them. Perceiving
no sign o f life in our camp, the Wanyaturu ju d g ed,
doubtless, that we were half dead with
fright, and advanced boldly to within thirty
yards, when the word was given to the W a ngwana
and Wanyamwezi, who rushed outside
and, b y the ve ry momentum o f the rush, drove
the savages to a distance o f 200 yards. The
Wangwana were then ordered to halt, and deployed
as skirmishers.
We still waited without firing. The savages,
not comprehending this extraordinary forbearance,
advanced once more. T he interpreters
were requested to warn them that we should
delay no longer. T h e y replied, “ Y e are women,
y e are women; go, ask Mirambo how he fared
in Ituru,” saying which they twanged their
bows. It was only then, perceiving that they
were too savage to understand the principles
of forbearance, that the final word to “ fight”
was given. A brisk encounter was maintained
for an hour, and then, having driven the savages
away, the Wangwana were recalled to camp.
THROUGH THE DARK CONTINENT. VOL. I. M