d, and an angry message to Kamrasi for
breaking his word, as he promised us we should go without a day's delay;
and go we must, for I could neither eat nor sleep from thinking of
my home. His only reply to this was, Bana is always in a preposterous
hurry. He answered, that for our gratification he had directed a dwarf
called Kimenya to be sent to us, and the Kamraviona should follow after.
Kimenya, a little old man, less than a yard high, called on us with a
walking-stick higher than himself, made his salaam, and sat down very
composedly. He then rose and danced, singing without invitation, and
following it up with queer antics. Lastly, he performed the tambura, or
charging-march, in imitation of Wakugnu, repeating the same words
they use, and ending by a demand for simbi, or cowrie-shells, modestly
saying, "I am a beggar, and want simbi; if you have not 500 to spare,
you must at any rate give me 400."

He then narrated his fortune in life. Born in Chopi, he was sent for by
Kamrasi, who first gave him two women, who died; then another, who ran
away; and, finally, a distorted dwarf like himself, whom he rejected,
because he thought the propagation of his pigmy breed would not be
advantageous to society. Bombay then marched him back to the palace,
with 500 simbi strung in necklaces round his neck. When these two had
gone, the Kamraviona arrived with two spears, one load of flour, and a
pot of pombe, which he requested me to accept, adding that the spears
were given as it was observed I had accepted some from the king of
Uganda; a shield was still in reserve for me, and spears would be sent
for Grant. Then with regard to my going, Kamrasi must beg us to have
patience until he had sent messengers into Kidi, requesting the natives
there not to molest me on the way, for they had threatened they would
do so, and if they persisted, he would send us with a force by another
route via Ugungu--another attempt to draw us off to fight against his
brothers.

I stormed at this announcement as a breach of faith; said I had given
the king my only tent, my only digester, my only saw, my only wire,
my only mosquito-curtains, and my last of everything, because he had
assured me I should have to pay no more chiefs, and he would give me the
road at once. If he did not intend now to fulfil his promise, I begged
he would take back his spears, for I would only accept them as a
farewell present. The Kamraviona finding me rather warm, with the us