How I Found Livingstone Travels, Adventures And Discoveries In Central Africa Including Four Months Residence With Dr. Livingstone By Sir Henry M. Stanley
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Sheikh Thani, Having Put On The Cap Of Consideration And Joined
Heads With Hamed And The Faithful Serviles, Thought If
I paid
twelve doti, out of which three should be of Ulyah+ quality,
that the Sultan might possibly condescend to
Accept our tribute;
supposing he was persuaded by the oratorical words of the "Faithfuls,"
that the Musungu had nothing with him but the mashiwa (boat),
which would be of no use to him, come what might, - with which
prudent suggestion the Musungu concurred, seeing its wisdom.
______________________
* White men.
+ Best, or superior.
_____________________
The slaves departed, bearing this time from our boma thirty doti,
with our best wishes for their success. In an hour they returned
with empty hands, but yet unsuccessful. The Sultan demanded six
doti of Merikani, and a fundo of bubu, from the Musungu; and from
the Arabs and other caravans, twelve doti more. For the third time
the slaves departed for the Sultan's tembe, carrying with them six
doti Merikani and a fundo of bubu from myself, and ten doti from
the Arabs. Again they returned to us with the Sultan's words,
"That, as the doti of the Musungu were short measure, and the cloths
of the Arabs of miserable quality, the Musungu must send three doti
full measure, and the Arabs five doti of Kaniki." My three doti
were at once measured out with the longest fore-arm - according
to Kigogo measure - and sent off by Bombay; but the Arabs, almost
in despair, declared they would be ruined if they gave way to such
demands, and out of the five doti demanded sent only two, with a
pleading to the Sultan that he would consider what was paid as
just and fair Muhongo, and not ask any more. But the Sultan of
Mvumi was by no means disposed to consider any such proposition,
but declared he must have three doti, and these to be two of Ulyah
cloth, and one Kitambi Barsati, which, as he was determined to
obtain, were sent to him heavy with the deep maledictions of
Sheikh Hamed and the despairing sighs of sheikh Thani.
Altogether the sultanship of a district in Ugogo must be very
remunerative, besides being a delightful sinecure, so long as the
Sultan has to deal with timid Arab merchants who fear to exhibit
anything approaching to independence and self-reliance, lest they
might be mulcted in cloth. In one day from one camp the sultan
received forty-seven doti, consisting of Merikani, Kaniki, Barsati,
and Dabwani, equal to $35.25, besides seven doti of superior
cloths, consisting of Rehani, Sohari, and Daobwani Ulyah, and one
fundo of Bubu, equal to $14.00, making a total of $49.25 - a most
handsome revenue for a Mgogo chief.
On the 27th May we gladly shook the dust of Mvumi from our feet,
and continued on our route - ever westward. Five of my donkeys had
died the night before, from the effects of the water of Marenga
Mkali. Before leaving the camp of Mvumi, I went to look at their
carcases; but found them to have been clean picked by the
hyaenas, and the bones taken possession of by an army of
white-necked crows.
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