How I Found Livingstone Travels, Adventures And Discoveries In Central Africa Including Four Months Residence With Dr. Livingstone By Sir Henry M. Stanley
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The Consciousness That My
Stomach Must Contain A Large Number, For Which The Forfeits Would
Be Heavy, Made Him Feel Very Sad At Times.
Otherwise, Ferajji was
a good cook, most industrious, if not accomplished.
He could
produce a cup of tea, and three or four hot pancakes, within ten
minutes after a halt was ordered, for which I was most grateful,
as I was almost always hungry after a long march. Ferajji sided
with Baraka against Bombay in Unyoro, and when Speke took Bombay's
side of the question, Ferajji, out of love for Baraka, left Speke's
service, and so forfeited his pay.
Maganga was a Mnyamwezi, a native of Mkwenkwe, a strong, faithful
servant, an excellent pagazi, with an irreproachable temper. He
it was who at all times, on the march, started the wildly exuberant
song of the Wanyamwezi porters, which, no matter how hot the sun,
or how long the march, was sure to produce gaiety and animation
among the people. At such times all hands sang, sang with voices
that could be heard miles away, which made the great forests ring
with the sounds, which startled every animal big or little, for
miles around. On approaching a village the temper of whose people
might be hostile to us, Maganga would commence his song, with the
entire party joining in the chorus, by which mode we knew whether
the natives were disposed to be friendly or hostile. If hostile,
or timid, the gates would at once be closed, and dark faces would
scowl at us from the interior; if friendly, they rushed outside of
their gates to welcome us, or to exchange friendly remarks.
An important member of the Expedition was Selim, the young Arab.
Without some one who spoke good Arabic, I could not have obtained
the friendship of the chief Arabs in Unyanyembe; neither could I
have well communicated with them, for though I understood Arabic,
I could not speak it.
I have already related how Kalulu came to be in my service, and
how he came to bear his present name. I soon found how apt and
quick he was to learn, in consequence of which, he was promoted
to the rank of personal attendant. Even Selim could not vie with
Kalulu in promptness and celerity, or in guessing my wants at the
table. His little black eyes were constantly roving over the
dishes, studying out the problem of what was further necessary,
or had become unnecessary.
We arrived at the Ziwani, in about 4 h. 30 m. from the time of
our quitting the scene which had well-nigh witnessed a sanguinary
conflict. The Ziwani, or pool, contained no water, not a drop,
until the parched tongues of my people warned them that they must
proceed and excavate for water. This excavation was performed (by
means of strong hard sticks sharply pointed) in the dry hard-caked
bottom. After digging to a depth of six feet their labours were
rewarded with the sight of a few drops of muddy liquid percolating
through the sides, which were eagerly swallowed to relieve their
raging thirst.
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