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formation, which was red sandy loam mixed with sandstone,
very light and friable, the surface loam very sandy. I reached
my old camping-place in the coco-nut shamba at 5 p.m.,
having taken roughly about two hours to travel across from
Siyu. ¡11 : : • ■
I was disappointed to hear that a dhow, which had been
faithfully promised by Mze Saifs son, and which ought to have
been waiting to take me on to Itembe, had not even been got
ready. I had to resign myself to spending another day in
Faza. I was still very seedy, and did not like to touch the
water here, so I was reduced to milk and eggs. The next
morning I was repeatedly told that the dhow would be
ready punctually at three in the afternoon, so I spent the
forenoon in visiting the bazaar again, and, with half the
village at my heels, calling to see the sick man I had visited
before, who was very ill with inflammation of the lungs. I did
what I could for him, but I fear he wanted more skilful help
and advice than I could give him.
By 2 p.m. I had got my tent and all my gear packed up,
only to discover that, after all, the dhow would not start until
the next day. My whole stock of patience- was needed not
only to meet these various mishaps, but to contend against
the grasping, and really at times exasperating, charactei of
the Bajoni people. Young Mze Saif became a great nuisance,
wanting everything he saw ; I had also to stop giving medi-
cines, as the constant stream of people clamouring for them
became overwhelming, and I had only a sufficient supply
for our own needs.
There was nothing to be done but to re-pitch my tent
again and hope for better luck to-morrow.
The thermometer readings this day were as follows
Patta, 6 a.m., 76° in the shade.
Sfyu, M a.m., 85° „ „ „
2 p.m., 88° „ „ „
Faza, 6 p.m., 82° „ ,, „ |