All Mohinna's pagazis bolted, and
his merchandise fell into the hands of the Wagogo.
Had his camp
been fortified, he think he would have been too much for his
enemies; but, as it was, he retaliated by shooting Short-legs in
the head, and at once bolted back to Kaze with a few slaves as
followers, and his three wives.
The change that had taken place in Unyanyembe since I last left
it was quite surprising. Instead of the Arabs appearing
merchants, as they did formerly, they looked more like great
farmers, with huge stalls of cattle attached to their houses;
whilst the native villages were all in ruins - so much so that, to
obtain corn for my men, I had to send out into the district
several days' journey off, and even then had to pay the most
severe famine prices for what I got. The Wanyamuezi, I was
assured, were dying of starvation in all directions; for, in
addition to the war, the last rainy season had been so light, all
their crops had failed.
27th and 28th. - I now gave all my men presents for the severe
trials they had experienced in the wilderness, forgetting, as I
told them, the merciless manner in which they had plundered me;
but as I have a trifle more in proportion, to the three sole
remaining pagazis, because they had not finished their work, my
men were all discontented, and wished to throw back their
presents, saying I did not love them, although they were
"perminents," as much as the "temperaries." They, however, gave
in, after some hours of futile arguments, on my making them
understand, through Baraka, that what they saw me give to the
pagazis would, if they reflected, only tend to prove to them that
I was not a bad master who forgot his obligations when he could
get no more out of his servants.
I then went into a long inquiry with Musa about our journey
northward to Karague; and as he said there were no men to be
found in or near Unyanyembe, for they were either all killed or
engaged in the war, it was settled he should send some of his
head men on to Rungua, where he had formerly resided, trading for
some years, and was a great favourite with the chief of the
place, by name Kiringuana. He also settled that I might take out
of his establishment of slaves as many men as I could induce to
go with me, for he thought them more trouble than profit, hired
porters being more safe; moreover, he said the plan would be of
great advantage to him, as I offered to pay, both man and master,
each the same monthly stipend as I gave my present men. This was
paying double, and all the heavier a burden, as the number I
should require to complete my establishment to one hundred armed
men would be sixty. He, however, very generously advised me not
to take them, as they would give so much trouble; but finally
gave way when I told him I felt I could not advance beyond
Karague unless I was quite independent of the natives there - a
view in which he concurred.
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