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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But The Crowd Vanished As Quickly As
They Had Come, Leaving The Burly Thersites, And Two Or Three
Irresolute Fellows Of His Tribe, Standing Within Pistol Range
Of My Levelled Rifle.
Such a sudden dispersion of the mob which,
but a moment before, was overwhelming in numbers, caused me to
lower my rifle, and to indulge in a hearty laugh at the disgraceful
flight of the men-destroyers.
The Arabs, who were as much
alarmed at their boisterous obtrusiveness, now came up to patch
a truce, in which they succeeded to everybody's satisfaction.
A few words of explanation, and the mob came back in greater
numbers than before; and the Thersites who had been the cause
of the momentary disturbance was obliged to retire abashed
before the pressure of public opinion. A chief now came up,
whom I afterwards learned was the second man to Swaruru, and
lectured the people upon their treatment of the "White Stranger."
"Know ye not, Wagogo," shouted he, "that this Musungu is a
sultan (mtemi - a most high title). He has not come to Ugogo
like the Wakonongo (Arabs), to trade in ivory, but to see us,
and give presents. Why do you molest him and his people?
Let them pass in peace. If you wish to see him, draw near,
but do not mock him. The first of you who creates a disturbance,
let him beware; our great mtemi shall know how you treat his
friends." This little bit of oratorical effort on the part of
the chief was translated to me there and then by the old Sheik
Thani; which having understood, I bade the Sheikh inform the
chief that, after I had rested, I should like him to visit me
in my tent.
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