We discovered that there had been present, during
the ceremony of muma-making, a representative sent
by Donytuli, the great medicine-man; which proved
his desire to enter into bonds of friendship with the
Europeans. We rewarded him for this by sending him
a large present; and thought it was with this possible
end in view that his representative was sent to attend
the treaty-making.
The next day we returned to Daitcho, and again
found the difference in the air very noticeable. Daitcho
is but 2500 feet above sea-level, while the Embe
country is 5000. We there found the Zanzibari expedition
of thirty men returned from their venture among
the Wanderobbo. They reported that ill luck had
attended them throughout the journey; that all their
donkeys had died, and they were forced to eat the food.
Doubt of the truth of their statement was removed
when we observed their fat and sleek appearance.
They wished me to give them a letter to their master
at the coast, in testimony of the efforts they had made
to earn large sums; and were very much surprised when
I declined. I have no doubt that their meetinOg w’ith
their masters at the coast was a stormy one.
We spent the next two or three days in preparations
for our departure. Our long stay at Daitcho had
enabled us to purchase and lay in a supply of food
sufficient for nearly forty days for the entire caravan.
Most of this was in flour.
The day before our departure George arrived with
thirty-seven donkeys; thirty of these were loaded with
food. We took with us ten loads of various trading-
goods — flannel blankets, Scotch shawls, the most
expensive sorts of beads, brass chains, and a number
of agates, which we heard were much prized in the
north. These ten loads were sufficient to buy camels
and donkeys, and we hoped the quality of the goods
would please the most fastidious natives. We expected
by the introduction of such articles as flannel
shawls and blankets to inspire these people with a
desire for trade with Europeans; for we knew that no
Arabs or Zanzibari would take such expensive goods.
Before the departure of the Beloochi, with their
caravan, they paid us a visit, and after the usual begging,
by which they succeeded in getting a good
present, they told us something about the country
" to the north. They themselves had never seen the
Rendile, but had met a man who, some years before,
while trading with the Wanderobbo, had fallen in with
a large party of these people. He found it impossible
to trade with them, and was forced to decamp during
the night lest he should be attacked. The Beloochi
assured us that a large force would be required for
a trip to the Rendile country, as all the rumours they
had heard tended to show that the character of the
Rendile was most overbearing and ferocious.
We had decided to take with us sixty-five men, the
pick of our caravan, and a large quantity of ammunition.
We judged this number of men to be sufficient
for defence, at least, and we placed great confidence in
the quality of our goods to induce the Rendile to
trade with us.
On the third day Hamidi with six men was despatched
to the coast, accompanying the Swahili caravan
of thirty men. He was told, again and again, that