During the
day they lured my men into their huts by inviting them to dinner;
but when they got them they stripped them stark-naked and let
them go again; whilst at night they stone our camp.
After this,
one more was shot dead and two others wounded.
I knew that Suwarora's message was all humbug, and that his
officers merely kept about one per cent. of what they took from
travellers, paying the balance into the royal coffers. Thinking
I was now well in for a good fleecing myself, I sent Bombay off
to Masudi's camp, to tell Insangez, who was travelling with him
on a mission of his master's, old Musa's son, that I would reward
him handsomely if he would, on arrival at Karague, get Rumanika
to send us his mace here in the same way as Suwarora had done to
help us out of Bogue, as he knew Musa at one time said he would
go with us to Karague in person. When Bombay was gone, Virembo
then deputed Kariwami to take the hongo for both at once, mildly
requiring 40 wires, 80 cloths, and 400 necklaces of every kind of
bead we possessed. This was, indeed, too much of a joke. I
complained of all the losses I had suffered, and begged for
mercy; but all he said, after waiting the whole day, was, "Do not
stick at trifles; for, after settling with us, you will have to
give as much more to Vikora, who lives down below."
Next morning, as I said I could not by any means pay such an
exorbitant tax as was demanded, Kariwami begged me to make an
offer which I did by sending him four wires.
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