While the pursuit was being effected we halted at
the village of Inesuka, more for the sake of Shaw than any one
else.
In the evening the incorrigible deserters were brought back, and,
as I had threatened, were well flogged and chained, to secure them
against further temptation. Bombay and Baraka had a picturesque
story to relate of the capture; and, as I was in an exceedingly
good humour, their services were rewarded with a fine cloth each.
On the following morning another carrier had absconded, taking with
him his hire of fifteen new cloths and a gun but to halt anywhere
near Unyanyembe any longer was a danger that could be avoided only
by travelling without stoppages towards the southern jungle-lands.
It will be remembered I had in my train the redoubtable Abdul
Kader, the tailor, he who had started from Bagamoyo with such
bright anticipations of the wealth of ivory to be obtained in the
great interior of Africa. On this morning, daunted by the reports
of the dangers ahead, Abdul Kader craved to be discharged. He
vowed he was sick, and unable to proceed any further. As I was
pretty well tired of him, I paid him off in cloth, and permitted
him to go.
About half way to Kasegera Mabruk Saleem was suddenly taken sick.
I treated him with a grain of calomel, and a couple of ounces of
brandy. As he was unable to walk, I furnished him with a donkey.
Another man named Zaidi was ill with a rheumatic fever; and Shaw
tumbled twice off the animal he was riding, and required an
infinite amount of coaxing to mount again. Verily, my expedition
was pursued by adverse fortunes, and it seemed as if the Fates had
determined upon our return. It really appeared as if everything
was going to wreck and ruin. If I were only fifteen days from
Unyanyembe, thought I, I should be saved!
Kasegera was a scene of rejoicing the afternoon and evening of our
arrival. Absentees had just returned from the coast, and the
youths were brave in their gaudy bedizenment, their new barsatis,
their soharis, and long cloths of bright new kaniki, with which
they had adorned themselves behind some bush before they had
suddenly appeared dressed in all this finery. The women "Hi-hi'ed"
like maenads, and the "Lu-lu-lu'ing" was loud, frequent, and
fervent the whole of that afternoon. Sylphlike damsels looked up
to the youthful heroes with intensest admiration on their
features; old women coddled and fondled them; staff-using,
stooping-backed patriarchs blessed them. This is fame in Unyamwezi!
All the fortunate youths had to use their tongues until the wee
hours of next morning had arrived, relating all the wonders they
had seen near the Great Sea, and in the "Unguja," the island of
Zanzibar; of how they saw great white men's ships, and numbers of
white men, of their perils and trials during their journey through
the land of the fierce Wagogo, and divers other facts, with which
the reader and I are by this time well acquainted.
On the 24th we struck camp, and marched through a forest of imbiti
wood in a S.S.W. direction, and in about three hours came to Kigandu.
On arriving before this village, which is governed by a daughter
of Mkasiwa, we were informed we could not enter unless we paid
toll. As we would not pay toll, we were compelled to camp in a
ruined, rat-infested boma, situated a mile to the left of Kigandu,
being well scolded by the cowardly natives for deserting Mkasiwa
in his hour of extremity. We were accused of running away from
the war.
Almost on the threshold of our camp Shaw, in endeavouring to
dismount, lost his stirrups, and fell prone on his face. The
foolish fellow actually, laid on the ground in the hot sun a
full hour; and when I coldly asked him if he did not feel
rather uncomfortable, he sat up, and wept like a child.
"Do you wish to go back, Mr. Shaw?"
"If you please. I do not believe I can go any farther; and
if you would only be kind enough, I should like to return very
much."
"Well, Mr. Shaw, I have come to the conclusion that it is best,
you should return. My patience is worn out. I have endeavoured
faithfully to lift you above these petty miseries which you
nourish so devotedly. You are simply suffering from hypochondria.
You imagine yourself sick, and nothing, evidently, will persuade
you that you are not. Mark my words - to return to Unyanyembe,
is to DIE! Should you happen to fall sick in Kwihara who knows
how to administer medicine to you? Supposing you are delirious,
how can any of the soldiers know what you want, or what is
beneficial and necessary for you? Once again, I repeat, if you
return, you DIE!"
"Ah, dear me; I wish I had never ventured to come! I thought
life in Africa was so different from this. I would rather go
back if you will permit me."
The next day was a halt, and arrangements were made for the
transportation of Shaw back to Kwihara. A strong litter was made,
and four stout pagazis were hired at Kigandu to carry him. Bread
was baked, a canteen was filled with cold tea, and a leg of a kid
was roasted for his sustenance while on the road.
The night before we parted we spent together. Shaw played some
tunes on an accordion which I had purchased for him at Zanzibar;
but, though it was only a miserable ten-dollar affair, I thought
the homely tunes evoked from the instrument that night were divine
melodies.
