Both
The Emam And Consul Were Desirous Of Seeing The Country Surveyed,
And Did Everything In Their Power To Assist
Maizan, the former
even appointing the Indian Musa to conduct him safely as far as
Unyamuezi; but their power was
Not found sufficient to damp the
raging fire of jealousy in the ivory-trader's heart. Musa
commenced the journey with Maizan, and they travelled together a
march or two, when one of Maizan's domestic establishment fell
sick and stopped his progress. Musa remained with him eight or
ten days, to his own loss in trade and expense in keeping up a
large establishment, and then they parted by mutual consent,
Maizan thinking himself quite strong enough to take care of
himself. This separation was, I believe, poor Maizan's death-
blow. His power, on the Emam's side, went with Musa's going, and
left the Arabs free to carry out their wicked wills.
The presents I had to give here were one sahari and eight yards
merikani to Hembe, and the same to Darunga, for which they gave a
return in grain. Still following close to the river - which,
unfortunately, is so enshrouded with thick bush that we could
seldom see it - a few of the last villages in Uzaramo were passed.
Here antelopes reappear amongst the tall mimosa, but we let them
alone in prosecution of the survey, and finally encamped opposite
the little hill of Kidunda, which lying on the left bank of the
Kingani, stretches north, a little east, into Uzegura. The hill
crops out through pisolitic limestone, in which marine fossils
were observable. It would be interesting to ascertain whether
this lime formation extends down the east coast of Africa from
the Somali country, where also, on my first expedition, I found
marine shells in the limestone, especially as a vast continuous
band of limestone is known to extend from the Tagus, through
Egypt and the Somali country, to the Burrumputra. To obtain food
it was necessary here to ferry the river and purchase from the
Wazaramo, who, from fear of the passing caravans, had left their
own bank and formed a settlement immediately under this pretty
little hill - rendered all the more enchanting to our eyes, as it
was the first we had met since leaving the sea-coast. The Diwan,
or head man, was a very civil creature; he presented us freely
with two fine goats - a thing at that time we were very much in
want of - and took, in return, without any comments, one dubani
and eight yards merikani.
The next day, as we had no further need of our Beluch escort, a
halt was made to enable me to draw up a "Progress Report," and
pack all the specimens of natural history collected on the way,
for the Royal Geographical Society. Captain Grant, taking
advantage of the spare time, killed for the larder two buck
antelopes, and the Tots brought in, in high excited triumph, a
famous pig.
This march, which declines from the Kingani a little, leads
through rolling, jungly ground, full of game, to the tributary
stream Mgeta.
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