Two or three were
reported killed; some were wounded. Beads, boxes, cloths, etc.,
lay strewed about the woods. In fact, I felt wrecked. My
attempt to go and demand redress from the sultan was resisted,
and, in utter despair, I seated myself among a mass of rascals
jeering round me, and insolent after the success of the day.
Several were dressed in the very cloths, etc., they had stolen
from my men.
"In the afternoon, about fifteen men and loads were brought me,
with a message from the sultan, that the attack had been a
mistake of his subjects - that one man had had a hand cut off for
it, and that all the property would be restored!
Yours sincerely, J. W. Grant."
Now, judging from the message sent to Grant by M'yonga, it
appeared to me that his men had mistaken their chief's orders,
and had gone one step beyond his intentions. It was obvious that
the chief merely intended to prevent Grant from passing through
or evading his district without paying a hongo, else he would not
have sent his men to invite him to his palace, doubtless with
instructions, if necessary, to use force. This appears the more
evident from the fact of his subsequent contrition, and finding
it necessary to send excuses when the property was in his hands;
for these chiefs, grasping as they are, know they must conform to
some kind of system, to save themselves from a general war, or
the avoidance of their territories by all travellers in future.
