The governor of the Arab colony of Ujiji,
having been an old friend, was, as may be supposed,
courteous and hospitable to me, and Mohammed
bin Gharib, who was so good to Livingstone
between Marungu and Ujiji, as far as Ma-
nyema, did his best to show me friendly attention.
Such luxuries as sweetmeats, wheaten bread,
rice, and milk were supplied so freely by Muini
Kheri and Sheikh Mohammed that both Frank
and myself began to increase rapidly in weight.
Judging from their rotundity of body, it may
fairly be said that both the friends enjoy life.
The governor is of vast, girth, and Mohammed
weighs probably only two stone less. The preceding
governor, Mohammed bin Sali, was also
of ample circumference, from which I conclude
that the climate of Ujiji agrees with the Arab
constitution. It certainly did not suit mine while
I was with Livingstone, for I was punished with
remittent and intermittent fever of such severe
type and virulence that in three months I was
reduced in weight to seven stone!
Muini Kheri’s whole wealth consists of about
120 slaves, male and female, eighty guns, eighty
frasilah of ivory, two tembes, or houses, a wheat
and rice field, nine canoes with oars and sails,
forty head of cattle, twenty goats * thirty bales
of cloth, and twenty sacks of beads, 350 lbs.
of brass wire, and 200 lbs. of iron wire, all of which,
appraised in the Ujiji market, might perhaps realize
18,000 dollars. His friend Mohammed is probably
worth 3000 dollars only! Sultan bin Kassim may
estimate the value of his property at 10,000 dollars,
Abdullah bin Suliman, the owner of the Great
Eastern of Lake Tanganika, at 15,000 dollars.
Other Arabs of Ujiji may be rated at from 100
to 3000 dollars.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Gharib is the owner of
the finest house. It is about 100 feet long by
25 feet in width and 14 feet in height. A broad
verandah, 10 feet wide and 40 feet long, runs
along a portion of the front, and affords ample
space for the accommodation of his visitors on
the luxurious carpets. The building is constructed
of sun-dried brick plastered over neatly with
clay. The great door is a credit to his carpenter,
and his latticed windows are a marvel to the
primitive native trader from Uhha or Uvinza.
The courtyard behind the house contains the
huts of the slaves, kitchens, and cow-house.
By his Arab friends Sheikh Mohammed bin
Gharib is regarded as an enterprising man, a good
friend, but too liberal to his slaves, forwhichreason
they say he is on the verge of bankruptcy.
He is so much in debt that he has no credit at
Zanzibar.
There is a good deal of jealousy between the
Arabs of Ujiji, which sometimes breaks out into
bloodshed. When Sayid bin Habib enters Ujiji
trouble is not far off. The son of Habib has a