I
Maintained That If He Was Commissioned To Help Me, He At Least
Could Not Refuse To Give Me A
Guide and interpreter; when, if I
failed in the direct route, I would try another, but go I must,
as
I could not hold out any longer, being short of beads and
cows. I had just enough, but none to spare. He told me not to
think of such a thing, as he would give me all that was needful,
both for myself and my men; but if I would have patience, he
would collect all his officers, and the next morning would see
what their opinions were on the subject.
5th. - I found that every one of Mahamed's men was against our
going to Gondokoro. They told me, in fact, with one voice, that
it was quite impossible; but they said, if I liked they would
furnish me guides to escort me on ten marches to a depot at the
further end of the Madi country, and if I chose to wait there
until they could collect all their ivory tusks together and join
us, we would be a united party too formidable to be resisted by
the Bari people. This offer of immediate guides I of course
accepted at once, as to keep on the move was my only desire at
that time; for my men were all drunk, and Kidgwiga's were
deserting. Once more on the way, I did not despair of reaching
Gondokoro by myself. In the best good-humour now, I showed
Mahamed our picture-books:
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