We were very tired and heated from the long
march, but the pagazis had all arrived by 3 p.m.
At the Wangwana village we met Amer bin Sultan, the very type of
an old Arab sheikh, such as we read of in books, with a snowy
beard, and a clean reverend face, who was returning to Zanzibar
after a ten years' residence in Unyanyembe. He presented me with
a goat; and a goatskin full of rice; a most acceptable gift in a
place where a goat costs five cloths.
After a day's halt at Rubuga, during which I despatched soldiers
to notify Sheikh Sayd bin Salim and Sheikh bin Nasib, the two chief
dignitaries of Unyanyembe, of my coming, on the 21st of June we
resumed the march for Kigwa, distant five hours. The road ran
through another forest similar to that which separated Tura from
Rubuga, the country rapidly sloping as we proceeded westward.
Kigwa we found to have been visited by the same vengeance which
rendered Rubuga such a waste.
The next day, after a three and a half hours' rapid march, we
crossed the mtoni - which was no mtoni - separating Kigwa from
Unyanyembe district, and after a short halt to quench our thirst,
in three and a half hours more arrived at Shiza. It was a most
delightful march, though a long one, for its picturesqueness of
scenery which every few minutes was revealed, and the proofs we
everywhere saw of the peaceable and industrious disposition of the
people. A short half hour from Shiza we beheld the undulating
plain wherein the Arabs have chosen to situate the central depot
which commands such wide and extensive field of trade. The
lowing of cattle and the bleating of the goats and sheep were
everywhere heard, giving the country a happy, pastoral aspect.
The Sultan of Shiza desired me to celebrate my arrival in
Unyanyembe, with a five-gallon jar of pombe, which he brought
for that purpose.
As the pombe was but stale ale in taste, and milk and water in
colour, after drinking a small glassful I passed it to the delighted
soldiers and pagazis. At my request the Sultan brought a fine fat
bullock, for which he accepted four and a half doti of Merikani.
The bullock was immediately slaughtered and served out to the
caravan as a farewell feast.
No one slept much that night, and long before the dawn the fires
were lit, and great steaks were broiling, that their stomachs might
rejoice before parting with the Musungu, whose bounty they had so
often tasted. Six rounds of powder were served to each soldier and
pagazi who owned a gun, to fire away when we should be near the
Arab houses. The meanest pagazi had his best cloth about his
loins, and some were exceedingly brave in gorgeous Ulyah "Coombeesa
Poonga" and crimson "Jawah," the glossy "Rehani," and the neat
"Dabwani." The soldiers were mustered in new tarbooshes, and the
long white shirts of the Mrima and the Island.
