As Yet I Had Not Heard Of
This Piece Of Rough Justice; And, On Inquiry, Found Out That He
Had
Been compelled to do as he had done, because those officers,
on finding we had gone ahead in boats would
Not produce the
complement of men required of them by the king's orders for
escorting us to Gani; but now they sent the men, the woman and
cows could not be returned, as they had been sent overland by the
ordinary route to the ferry on the Nile.
Of course we would not listen to this reference for justice with
Kamrasi, as the woman and cows were still all alive; commended
Kidgwiga for carrying out his orders so well, and told the
officers they had merited their punishment - as how could the
affairs of government be carried on, when subordinate officers
refused immediate compliance? The submkungu of Northern Gueni,
Kasoro, now proffered a goat and plantains, and everything was
settled for the day.
With a full complement of porters, travelling six miles through
cultivation and jungle, we reached the headquarters of governor
Kaeru, where all the porters threw down their loads and bolted,
though we were still two miles from the post. We inquired for
the boats at once, but were told they were some distance off, and
we must wait here for the night. Four pots of pombe were sent
us, and Kaeru thought we would be satisfied and conform. We
suspected, however, that there was some trick at the bottom of
all; so, refusing the liquor, we said, with proper emphasis,
"Unless we are forwarded to the boats at once, and get them on
the following morning, we cannot think of receiving presents from
any one." This served our purpose, for a fresh set of porters was
found like magic, and traps, pombe, and all together, were
forwarded to the journey's end - a snug batch of huts imbedded in
large plantain cultivation surrounded by jungle, and obviously
near the river, as numerous huge harpoons, intended for striking
hippopotami, were suspended from the roof.
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