I have a good excuse for returning to
the coast, but my conscience will not permit me to do so, after
so much money has been expended, and so much confidence has been
placed in me. In fact, I feel I must die sooner than return.
Saturday, August 12th. - My men, as I supposed they would, have
gone; they said that I engaged them to go, to Ujiji by Mirambo's
road. I have only thirteen left.
With this small body of men, whither can I go? I have over one
hundred loads in the storeroom. Livingstone's caravan is also
here; his goods consist of seventeen bales of cloth, twelve boxes,
and six bags of beads. His men are luxuriating upon the best the
country affords.
If Livingstone is at Ujiji, he is now locked up with small means of
escape. I may consider myself also locked up at Unyamyembe, and
I suppose cannot go to Ujiji until this war with Mirambo is
settled. Livingstone cannot get his goods, for they are here with
mine. He cannot return to Zanzibar, and the road to the Nile is
blocked up. He might, if he has men and stores, possibly reach
Baker by travelling northwards, through Urundi, thence through
Ruanda, Karagwah, Uganda, Unyoro, and Ubari to Gondokoro. Pagazis
he cannot obtain, for the sources whence a supply might be
obtained are closed.
