Thani replied that he had not taken pains to
inquire, but was told by the villagers that there was an abundance
of matamia, hindi, maweri, sheep; goats, and chickens in their
village at cheap prices, such as were not known in Ugogo.
"Well, then," said I, "if Hamed wants to be a fool, and kill his
pagazis, why should we? I have as much cause for haste as Sheikh
Hamed; but Unyanyembe is far yet, and I am not going to endanger
my property by playing the madman."
As Thani had reported, we found an abundance of provisions at the
village, and good sweet water from some pits close by. A sheep
cost one chukka; six chickens were also purchased at that price;
six measures of matama, maweri, or hindi, were procurable for the
same sum; in short, we were coming, at last, into the land of
plenty.
On the 10th June we arrived at Kiti after a journey of four hours
and a half, where we found the irrepressible Hamed halted in sore
trouble. He who would be a Caesar, proved to be an irresolute
Antony. He had to sorrow over the death of a favourite slave girl,
the loss of five dish-dashes (Arab shirts), silvered-sleeve and
gold-embroidered jackets, with which he had thought to enter
Unyanyembe in state, as became a merchant of his standing, which
had disappeared with three absconding servants, besides copper
trays, rice, and pilau dishes, and two bales of cloth with runaway
Wangwana pagazis.
