I assure you that a
residence of four or five years on this island, among such people
as are here, would make you feel that it was a hopeless task to
resist the influence of the example by which the most energetic
spirits are subdued, and to which they must submit in time, sooner
or later. We were all terribly energetic when we first came here,
and struggled bravely to make things go on as we were accustomed
to have them at home, but we have found that we were knocking our
heads against granite walls to no purpose whatever. These fellows -
the Arabs, the Banyans, and the Hindis - you can't make them go
faster by ever so much scolding and praying, and in a very short
time you see the folly of fighting against the unconquerable.
Be patient, and don't fret, that is my advice, or you won't live
long here."
There were three or four intensely busy men, though, at Zanzibar,
who were out at all hours of the day. I know one, an American; I
fancy I hear the quick pit-pat of his feet on the pavement beneath
the Consulate, his cheery voice ringing the salutation, "Yambo!"
to every one he met; and he had lived at Zanzibar twelve years.
I know another, one of the sturdiest of Scotchmen, a most
pleasant-mannered and unaffected man, sincere in whatever he did
or said, who has lived at Zanzibar several years, subject to the
infructuosities of the business he has been engaged in, as well as
to the calor and ennui of the climate, who yet presents as formidable
a front as ever to the apathetic native of Zanzibar. No man can
charge Capt. H. C. Fraser, formerly of the Indian Navy, with being
apathetic.
I might with ease give evidence of the industry of others, but
they are all my friends, and they are all good. The American,
English, German, and French residents have ever treated me with a
courtesy and kindness I am not disposed to forget. Taken as a
body, it would be hard to find a more generous or hospitable colony
of white men in any part of the world.
CHAPTER III. ORGANIZATION OF THE EXPEDITION.
I was totally ignorant of the interior, and it was difficult at
first to know, what I needed, in order to take an Expedition into
Central Africa. Time was precious, also, and much of it could not
be devoted to inquiry and investigation. In a case like this, it
would have been a godsend, I thought, had either of the three
gentlemen, Captains Burton, Speke, or Grant, given some information
on these points; had they devoted a chapter upon, "How to get
ready an Expedition for Central Africa." The purpose of this
chapter, then, is to relate how I set about it, that other
travellers coming after me may have the benefit of my experience.
These are some of the questions I asked myself, as I tossed on my
bed at night: -
"How much money is required?"
"How many pagazis, or carriers?
"How many soldiers?"
"How much cloth?"
"How many beads?"
"How much wire?"
"What kinds of cloth are required for the different tribes?"
Ever so many questions to myself brought me no clearer the exact
point I wished to arrive at. I scribbled over scores of sheets
of paper, made estimates, drew out lists of material, calculated
the cost of keeping one hundred men for one year, at so many yards
of different kinds of cloth, etc. I studied Burton, Speke, and
Grant in vain. A good deal of geographical, ethnological, and other
information appertaining to the study of Inner Africa was obtainable,
but information respecting the organization of an expedition
requisite before proceeding to Africa, was not in any book.
The Europeans at Zanzibar knew as little as possible about this
particular point. There was not one white man at Zanzibar who
could tell how many dotis a day a force of one hundred men
required to buy food for one day on the road. Neither, indeed,
was it their business to know. But what should I do at all, at
all? This was a grand question.
I decided it were best to hunt up an Arab merchant who had been
engaged in the ivory trade, or who was fresh from the interior.
Sheikh Hashid was a man of note and of wealth in Zanzibar. He had
himself despatched several caravans into the interior, and was
necessarily acquainted with several prominent traders who came to
his house to gossip about their adventures and gains. He was also
the proprietor of the large house Capt. Webb occupied; besides,
he lived across the narrow street which separated his house from
the Consulate. Of all men Sheikh Hashid was the man to be
consulted, and he was accordingly invited to visit me at the
Consulate.
From the grey-bearded and venerable-looking Sheikh, I elicited
more information about African currency, the mode of procedure,
the quantity and quality of stuffs I required, than I had obtained
from three months' study of books upon Central Africa; and from
other Arab merchants to whom the ancient Sheikh introduced me,
I received most valuable suggestions and hints, which enabled me
at last to organize an Expedition.
The reader must bear in mind that a traveller requires only that
which is sufficient for travel and exploration that a superfluity
of goods or means will prove as fatal to him as poverty of
supplies. It is on this question of quality and quantity that
the traveller has first to exercise his judgment and discretion.
My informants gave me to understand that for one hundred men,
10 doti, or 40 yards of cloth per diem, would suffice for food.
The proper course to pursue, I found, was to purchase 2,000 doti
of American sheeting, 1,000 doti of Kaniki, and 650 doti of the
coloured cloths, such as Barsati, a great favourite in Unyamwezi;
Sohari, taken in Ugogo; Ismahili, Taujiri, Joho, Shash, Rehani,
Jamdani or Kunguru-Cutch, blue and pink.
