"Ask the master's pardon, man, or go thy way," said Mabruki
peremptorily, to Asmani: which Asmani did, to the gratification
of us all.
It remained for me only to extend a general pardon to all except
to Bombay and Ambari, the instigators of the mutiny, which was now
happily quelled. For Bombay could have by a word, as my captain,
nipped all manifestation of bad temper at the outset, had he been
so disposed. But no, Bombay was more averse to marching
than the cowardliest of his fellows, not because he was cowardly,
but because he loved indolence.
Again the word was given to march, and each man, with astonishing
alacrity, seized his load, and filed off quickly out of sight.
While on this subject, I may as well give here a sketch of each of
the principal men whose names must often appear in the following
chapters. According to rank, they consist of Bombay, Mabruki
Burton, Asmani the guide, Chowpereh, Ulimengo, Khamisi, Ambari,
Jumah, Ferajji the cook, Maganga the Mnyamwezi, Selim the Arab boy,
and youthful Kalulu a gunbearer.
Bombay has received an excellent character from Burton and Speke.
"Incarnation of honesty" Burton grandly terms him. The truth is,
Bombay was neither very honest nor very dishonest, i.e., he did
not venture to steal much. He sometimes contrived cunningly, as
he distributed the meat, to hide a very large share for his own use.
This peccadillo of his did not disturb me much; he deserved as
captain a larger share than the others.
