Where The Watuta Came From, Nobody Could
Tell; They Were Dressed Something Like The Zulu Kaffirs Of The
South, But Appeared To Be Now Gradually Migrating From The
Regions Of N'yazza.
To this Dr K'yengo, who was now living with
Rumanika as his head magician, added that, whilst he was
Living
in Utambara, the Watuta invested his boma six months; and
finally, when all their cows and stores were exhausted, they
killed all the inhabitants but himself, and he only escaped by
the power of the charms which he carried about him. These were
so powerful, that although he lay on the ground, and the Watuta
struck at him with their spears, not one could penetrate his
body.
In the evening after this, as the king wished to see all my
scientific instruments, we walked down to the camp; and as he did
not beg for anything, I gave him some gold and mother-of-pearl
shirt studs to swell up his trinket-box. The same evening I made
up my mind, if possible, to purchase a stock of beads from the
Arabs, and sent Baraka off to Kufro, to see what kind of a
bargain he could make with them; for, whilst I trembled to think
what those "blood-suckers" would have the impudence to demand
when they found me at their mercy, I felt that the beads must be
bought, or the expedition would certainly come to grief.
1st and 2d. - Two days after this the merchants came in a body to
see me, and said their worst beads would stand me 80 dollars per
frasala, as they would realise that value in ivory on arrival at
the coast. Of course no business was done, for the thing was
preposterous by all calculation, being close on 2500 per cent.
above Zanzibar valuation. I was "game" to give 50 dollars, but
as they would not take this, I thought of dealing with Rumanika
instead. I then gave Nnanaji, who had been constantly throwing
out hints that I ought to give him a gun as he was a great
sportsman, a lappet of beadwork to keep his tongue quiet, and he
in return sent me a bullock and sundry pots of pombe, which, in
addition to the daily allowance sent by Rumanika, made all my
people drunk, and so affected Baraka that one of the women - also
drunk - having given him some sharp abuse, he beat her in so
violent a manner that the whole drunken camp set upon him, and
turned the place into a pandemonium. A row amongst the negroes
means a general rising of arms, legs, and voices; all are in a
state of the greatest excitement; and each individual thinks he
is doing the best to mend matters, but is actually doing his best
to create confusion.
By dint of perseverance, I now succeeded in having Baraka
separated from the crowd and dragged before me for justice. I
found that the woman, who fully understood the jealous hatred
which existed in Baraka's heart against Bombay, flirted with both
of them; and, pretending to show a preference for Bombay, set
Baraka against her, when from high words they came to blows, and
set the place in a blaze.
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