He
continued to beg, and I to resist. I offered a knife instead,
but this he would not have, because the lucifers would be so
valuable for his magical observances. On went the storm, till at
last I drove him off with a pair of my slippers, which he had
stuck his dirty feet into without my leave. I then refused to
take his bullock, because he had annoyed me. On his part he was
resolved not to beat the drum; but he graciously said he would
think about it if I paid another lot of cloth equal to the second
deole I ought to have given him.
I began seriously to consider whether I should have this chief
shot, as a reward for his oppressive treachery, and a warning to
others; but the Pig said it was just what the Arabs were
subjected to in Ubena, and they found it best to pay down at
once, and do all they were ordered. If I acted rightly, I would
take the bullock, and then give the cloth; whilst Baraka said,
"We will shoot him if you give the order, only remember Grant is
behind, and if you commence a row you will have to fight the
whole way, for every chief in the country will oppose you."
I then told the Pig and Baraka to settle at once. They no sooner
did so than the drums beat, and Makaka, in the best humour
possible, came over to say I had permission to go when I liked,
but he hoped I would give him a gun and a box of lucifers. This
was too provoking. The perpetual worry had given Baraka a fever,
and had made me feel quite sick; so I said, if he ever mentioned
a gun or lucifers again, I would fight the matter out with him,
for I had not come there to be bullied. He then gave way, and
begged I would allow my men to fire a volley outside his boma, as
the Watuta were living behind a small line of granitic hills
flanking the west of his district, and he wished to show them
what a powerful force he had got with him. This was permitted;
but his wisdom in showing off was turned into ridicule; for the
same evening the Watuta made and attack on his villages and
killed three of his subjects, but were deterred from committing
further damage by coming in contact with my men, who, as soon as
they saw the Watuta fighting, fired their muskets off in the air
and drove them away, they themselves at the same time bolting
into my camp, and as usual vaunting their prowess.
I then ordered a march for the next morning, and went out in the
fields to take my regular observations for latitude. Whilst
engaged in this operation, Baraka, accompanied by Wadimoyo
(Heart's-stream), another of my freeman, approached me in great
consternation, whispering to themselves.
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