The Change That Had Taken Place In Unyanyembe Since I Last Left
It Was Quite Surprising.
Instead of the Arabs appearing
merchants, as they did formerly, they looked more like great
farmers, with huge stalls
Of cattle attached to their houses;
whilst the native villages were all in ruins - so much so that, to
obtain corn for my men, I had to send out into the district
several days' journey off, and even then had to pay the most
severe famine prices for what I got. The Wanyamuezi, I was
assured, were dying of starvation in all directions; for, in
addition to the war, the last rainy season had been so light, all
their crops had failed.
27th and 28th. - I now gave all my men presents for the severe
trials they had experienced in the wilderness, forgetting, as I
told them, the merciless manner in which they had plundered me;
but as I have a trifle more in proportion, to the three sole
remaining pagazis, because they had not finished their work, my
men were all discontented, and wished to throw back their
presents, saying I did not love them, although they were
"perminents," as much as the "temperaries." They, however, gave
in, after some hours of futile arguments, on my making them
understand, through Baraka, that what they saw me give to the
pagazis would, if they reflected, only tend to prove to them that
I was not a bad master who forgot his obligations when he could
get no more out of his servants.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 127 of 767
Words from 34568 to 34824
of 210958
