We Were Not The Only Travellers In Misfortune Here, For Masudi,
With Several Other Arabs, All Formed In One Large Caravan, Had
Arrived At Mchimeka's, And Could Not Advance For Want Of Men.
They told me it was the first time they had come on this line,
and they deeply regretted it, for they had lost 5000 dollar's
worth of beads by their porters running away with their loads,
and now they did not know how to proceed.
Indeed, they left the
coast and arrived at Kaze immediately in rear of us, and had,
like ourselves, found it as much as they could do even to reach
this, and now they were at a standstill for want of porters.
As all hopes of being able to get any more men were given up, I
called on Bombay and Baraka to make arrangements for my going
ahead with the best of my property as I had devised. They both
shook their heads, and advised me to remain until the times
improved, when the Arabs, being freed from the pressure of war,
would come along and form with us a "sufari ku" or grand march,
as Ukulima and every one else had said we should be torn to
pieces in Usui if we tried to cross that district with so few
men. I then told them again and again of the messages I had sent
on to Rumanika in Karague, and to Suwarora in Usui, and begged
them to listen to me, instancing as an example of what could be
done by perseverance the success of Columbus, who, opposed by his
sailors' misgivings, still when on and triumphed, creating for
himself immortal renown.
They gave way at last; so, after selecting all the best of my
property, I formed camp at Phunze, left Bombay with Grant behind,
as I thought Bombay the best and most honest man I had got, from
his having had so much experience, and then went ahead by myself,
with the Pig as my guide and interpreter, and Baraka as my
factotum. The Waguana then all mutinied for a cloth apiece,
saying they would not lift a load unless I gave it. Of course a
severe contest followed; I said, as I had given them so much
before, they could not want it, and ought to be ashamed of
themselves. They urged, however, they were doing double work,
and would not consent to carry loads as they had done at Mgunda
Mkhali again.
Arguments were useless, for, simply because they were tired of
going on, they WOULD not see that as they were receiving pay
every day, they therefore ought to work every day. However, as
they yielded at last, by some few leaning to my side, I gave what
they asked for, and went to the next village, still inefficient
in men, as all the Pig's Watoto could not be collected together.
This second move brought us into a small village, of which Ghiya,
a young man, was chief.
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