The Pig Then Finally Refused, Saying Three Loads
Even Would Not Tempt Him, For All Were Opposed To It.
Of what
value, he observed, would the beads be to him if his life was
lost?
This was crushing; the whole camp was unanimous in
opposing me. I then made Baraka place all my kit in the middle
of the boma, which was a very strong one, keeping out only such
beads as I wished him to use for the men's rations daily, and
ordered him to select a few men who would return with me to Kaze;
when I said, if I could not get all the men I wanted, I would try
and induce some one, who would not fear, to go on to Usui;
failing which, I would even walk back to Zanzibar for men, as
nothing in the world would ever induce me to give up the journey.
This appeal did not move him; but, without a reply, he sullenly
commenced collecting some men to accompany me back to Kaze. At
first no one would go; they then mutinied for more beads,
announcing all sorts of grievances, which they said they were
always talking over to themselves, though I did not hear them.
The greatest, however, that they could get up was, that I always
paid the Wanyamuezi "temporaries" more than they got, though
"permanents." "They were the flesh, and I was the knife"; I cut
and did with them just as I liked, and they could not stand it
any longer.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 182 of 767
Words from 49644 to 49898
of 210958
