Quite Undisturbed, We Packed And Marched As Usual, And Soon
Passed Nzasa Close To The River, Which Is Only Indicated By A
Line Of Trees Running Through A Rich Alluvial Valley.
We camped
at the little settlement of Kizoto, inhospitably presided over by
Phanze Mukia ya Nyani or Monkey's Tail,
Who no sooner heard of
our arrival than he sent a demand for his "rights." One dubani
was issued, with orders than no one need approach me again,
unless he wanted to smell my powder. Two taxes in five miles was
a thing unheard of; and I heard no more about the matter, until
Bombay in the evening told me how Sheikh Said, fearing awkward
consequences, had settled to give two dubuani, one being taken
from his own store. Lion's Claw also turned up again, getting
his cloths of yesterday - one more being added from the Sheikh's
stores - and he was then advised to go off quietly, as I was a
fire-eater whom nobody dared approach after my orders had been
issued. This was our third march in Uzaramo; we had scarcely
seen a man of the country, and had no excessive desire to do so.
Deflecting from the serpentine course of the Kingani a little, we
crossed a small bitter rivulet, and entered on the elevated
cultivation of Kiranga Ranga, under Phanze Mkungu-pare, a very
mild man, who, wishing to give no offence, begged for a trifling
present. He came in person, and his manner having pleased us, I
have him one sahari, four yards merikani, and eight yards kiniki,
which pleased our friend so much that he begged us to consider
his estate our own, even to the extent of administering his
justice, should any Mzaramo be detected stealing from us. Our
target-practice, whilst instructing the men, astonished him not a
little, and produced an exclamation that, with so many guns, we
need fear nothing, go where we would. From this place a good
view is obtained of Uzegura. Beyond the flat alluvial valley of
the Kingani, seven to eight miles broad, the land rises suddenly
to a table-land of no great height, on which trees grow in
profusion. In fact it appeared, as far as the eye could reach,
the very counterpart of that where we stood, with the exception
of a small hill, very distant, called Phongue.
A very welcome packet of quinine and other medicines reached us
here from Rigby, who, hearing our complaints that the Hottentots
could only be kept alive by daily potions of brandy and quinine,
feared our supplies were not enough, and sent us more.
We could not get the Sultan's men to chum with the Wanguana
proper; they were shy, like wild animals - built their huts by
themselves - and ate and talked by themselves, for they felt
themselves inferiors; and I had to nominate one of their number
to be their chief, answerable for the actions of the whole.
Being in the position of "boots" to the camp, the tending of
goats fell to their lot.
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