How I Found Livingstone Travels, Adventures And Discoveries In Central Africa Including Four Months Residence With Dr. Livingstone By Sir Henry M. Stanley
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At 6 A.M., Having Spoken For Seven
Hours, The Two Men Returned, With The Demand For Thirteen Doti For
Nzogera, And Ten Doti For Kiala.
Poor Bombay was hoarse, but
Asmani still smiled; and I relented, congratulating myself that
the preposterous demand, which was simply robbery, was no worse.
Three hours later another demand was made. Kiala had been visited
by a couple of chiefs from his father; and the chiefs being told
that a white man was at the ferry, put in a claim for a couple of
guns and a keg of gunpowder. But here my patience was exhausted,
and I declared that they should have to take them by force, for I
would never consent to be robbed and despoiled after any such
fashion.
Until 11 P.M., Bombay and Asmani were negotiating about this extra
demand, arguing, quarreling, threatening, until Bombay declared
they would talk him mad if it lasted much longer. I told Bombay
to take two cloths, one for each chief, and, if they did not
consider it enough, then I should fight. The present was taken,
and the negotiations were terminated at midnight.
November 2nd. - Ihata Island, one and a half hour west of Kiala's.
We arrived before the Island of Ihata, on the left bank of the
Malagarazi, at 5 p.m.; the morning having been wasted in puerile
talk with the owner of the canoes at the ferry. The final demand
for ferriage across was eight yards of cloth and four fundo* of
sami-sami, or red beads; which was at once paid. Four men, with
their loads, were permitted to cross in the small, unshapely, and
cranky canoes. When the boatmen had discharged their canoes of
their passengers and cargoes, they were ordered to halt on the
other side, and, to my astonishment, another demand was made. The
ferrymen had found that two fundo of these were of short measure,
and two fundo more must be paid, otherwise the contract for
ferrying us across would be considered null and void. So two fundo
more were added, but not without demur and much "talk," which in
these lands is necessary.
Three times the canoes went backwards and forwards, when, lo!
another demand was made, with the usual clamour and fierce wordy
dispute; this time for five khete # for the man who guided us to
the ferry, a shukka of cloth for a babbler, who had attached
himself to the old-womanish Jumah, who did nothing but babble and
increase the clamor. These demands were also settled.
# Necklaces.
About sunset we endeavoured to cross the donkeys. "Simba," a fine
wild Kinyamwezi donkey, went in first, with a rope attached to his
neck. He had arrived at the middle of the stream when we saw
him begin to struggle - a crocodile had seized him by the throat.
The poor animal's struggles were terrific. Chowpereh was dragging
on the rope with all his might, but to no use, for the donkey sank,
and we saw no more of him.
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