A superlative obstinacy, however,
impelled me on, merely to spite their supine souls; but when I
sallied out of my tent to call them to get ready, I found that
at least twenty were missing; and Livingstone's letter-carrier,
"Kaif-Halek" - or, How-do-ye-do? - had not arrived with Dr.
Livingstone's letter-bag.
Selecting twenty of the strongest and faithfulest men I despatched
them back to Unyanyembe in search of the missing men; and Selim
was sent to Sheikh bin Nasib to borrow, or buy, a long slave-chain.
Towards night my twenty detectives returned with nine of the
missing men. The Wajiji had deserted in a body, and they could
not be found. Selim also returned with a strong chain, capable of
imprisoning within the collars attached to it at least ten men.
Kaif-Halek also appeared with the letter-bag which he was to convey
to Livingstone under my escort. The men were then addressed, and
the slave-chain exhibited to them. I told them that I was the
first white man who had taken a slave-chain with him on his travels;
but, as they were all so frightened of accompanying me, I was obliged
to make use of it, as it was the only means of keeping them together.
The good need never fear being chained by me - only the deserters,
the thieves, who received their hire and presents, guns and
ammunition, and then ran away.
