forests of Pumwani, in the immediate neighbourhood,
where he made a stand.
A t the time of my arrival he was said to have iooo
guns at his command. His followers, thus armed, he
employed for the most part in ravaging the neighbouring
Arab plantations and native villages. What plunder,
such as slaves, etc., he managed to acquire by these
raids, he exchanged with the Somali for ivory, guns,
caps, powder, and lead.
The Somali with whom he traded came from points
as far north as Kismayu. One of their number, Bar-
falatta by name, finding the/business engaged in by the
Sultan of Witu profitable, attracted to himself a number
of runaway slaves and renegade Arabs. With these he
established himself at a point not far from Pumwani,
called Jongeni. Both of these places, Pumwani and
Jongeni, were in the neighbourhood of Mkonumbi,
where I pitched my first camp. The British East
Africa Company, as a check upon these raids, had
established upon the site of the old town of Witu a
garrison consisting of 150 Indian soldiers, under the
command of two officers. This force had had several
engagements with the raiders established at Pumwani
and Jongeni; but had been unable, owing to their small
number and the difficult nature of the country, to drive
the raiders from the territory.
My arrival at Mkonumbi, with a respectable force at
my command (160 men), was construed by«the rival
chiefs (Fumo Omari and Barfalatta) as a demonstration
of increased hostility on the part of the Europeans,
and, perhaps in consequence, the raids during my stay
at Mkonumbi became fewer and upon a smaller scale.