Beyond It, Following Under
The Line Of The Hills, At One Day's Journey Distant, There Is A
Smaller River Called Msonge.
At an equal distance beyond it,
another of the same size is known as Lungerengeri; and a fourth
river is the Wami, which mouths in the sea at Utondue, between
the ports of Whindi and Saadami.
In former years, the ivory-
merchants, ever seeking for an easy road for their trade, and
knowing they would have no hills to climb if they could only gain
a clear passage by this river from the interior plateau to the
sea, made friends with the native chiefs of Uzegura, and
succeeded in establishing it as a thoroughfare. Avarice,
however, that fatal enemy to the negro chiefs, made them
overreach themselves by exorbitant demands of taxes. Then
followed contests for the right of appropriating the taxes, and
the whole ended in the closing of the road, which both parties
were equally anxious to keep open for their mutual gain. This
foolish disruption having at first only lasted for a while, the
road was again opened and again closed, for the merchants wanted
an easy passage, and the native chiefs desired cloths. But it
was shut again; and now we heard of its being for a third time
opened, with what success the future only can determine - for
experience WILL not teach the negro, who thinks only for the
moment. Had they only sense to see, and patience to wait, the
whole trade of the interior would inevitably pass through their
country instead of Uzaramo; and instead of being poor in cloths,
they would be rich and well dressed like their neighbours.
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