God Only
Knows What Became Of The Rest; But The One I Selected, On
Reaching Home, I Gave To Ilmas, My Valet, For A Wife.
He and all
the other household servants were much delighted with this
charming acquisition; but the poor girl, from
The time she had
been selected, had flattered herself she was to be Bana's wife,
and became immensely indignant at the supposed transfer, though
from the first I had intended her for Ilmas, not only to favour
him for his past good services, but as an example to my other
men, as I had promised to give them all, provided they behaved
well upon the journey, a "free-man's garden," with one wife each
and a purse of money, to begin a new life upon, as soon as they
reached Zanzibar. The temper of Meri and Kahala was shown in a
very forcible manner: they wanted this maid as an addition to my
family, called her into the hut and chatted till midnight,
instructing her not to wed with Ilmas; and then, instead of
turning into bed as usual, they all three slept upon the ground.
My patience could stand this phase of henpecking no longer, so I
called in Manamaka, the head Myamuezi woman, whom I had selected
for their governess, and directed her to assist Ilmas, and put
them to bed "bundling."
21st. - In the morning, before I had time to write letters, the
king invited me to join him at some new tank he was making
between his palace and the residence of his brothers.
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