It is not too much to say
that almost every step of the weary sultry way was in pain, and
I reached Ujiji a mere ruckle of bones.
There I found that some five hundred pounds' sterling worth of
goods which I had ordered from Zanzibar had unaccountably been
entrusted to a drunken half-caste Moslem tailor, who, after
squandering them for sixteen months on the way to Ujiji; finished
up by selling off all that remained for slaves and ivory for himself.
He had "divined" on the Koran and found that I was dead. He had
also written to the Governor of Unyanyembe that he had sent slaves
after me to Manyuema, who returned and reported my decease, and
begged permission to sell off the few goods that his drunken
appetite had spared.
He, however, knew perfectly well, from men who had seen me, that
I was alive, and waiting for the goods and men; but as for morality,
he is evidently an idiot, and there being no law here except that
of the dagger or musket, I had to sit down in great weakness,
destitute of everything save a few barter cloths and beads, which
I had taken the precaution to leave here in case of extreme need.
The near prospect of beggary among Ujijians made me miserable.
