passed quietly and uneventfully ; there were a few cases of
drunkenness from “ tembo,” and one man actually got drunk
on eau-de-Cologne/which he had bought from an Indian
trader
I found great difficulty in disposing of shamba produce on
account of the people having all gone up to gather Orchella-
weed Money was very scarce owing to the seasons bad
crops, and grain was very dear just then-metamah selling
for nine pice a kibaba (about a pint), the usual rate being
three pice. ' ,
The twenty-one Uganda porters were to have gone to work
after a t h r e e w e e k s ’ rest and holiday, but at their urgent
request I granted them another week’s leave, thus making
it a full month’s holiday. I . . r
One hears so much said now-a-days to the detriment of
the Arab, that I think it only fair to chronicle the following—
When the Arabs, Bedwin and Said, who had gone up with
me to Marereni, came to visit me after my return, I gladly
offered them a remuneration for all their hard work up there.
Bedwin flatly declined to receive anything; he said 1 had
shown his brother and himselLgreat honour, and that was
enough for both. I prevailed upon them, however, to accept
a box of biscuits, some Eno’s Fruit Salt, a table-knife and some
cigarettes, and delighted both immensely by showing them
the pictures in Thomson’s book, Through Masai Land.
Ali bin Salim, the.Liwali of Mombrui, came to see me
one day to consult me about a project he had much at heart,
which did him the highest credit, and is a remarkable example
of the broad views of an enlightened Arab gentleman This
was about the opening of a school at, Mombrui wherega
. beginning could be made in teaching the English language
to^Arab children. He proposed to begin with ten children
of the leading families of the place. The idea was entirely
the Eiwali’s own,’ and the whole expense was to be borne by
him. Such an undertaking could not but appeal to ones
warmest sympathy. - I .
It was now near the time of Sir Gerald Portal s visit, so I
prepared to start again for Lake Krawa, and left for Marereni
qn Nov. 7, Bedwin and Sa,id coming with me as before*