-humour, again discussed our plans for going ahead the next day.
Scarcely able to look me in the face, the humbugging scoundrel said he
could not think of allowing me to go on without him, for if any accident
happened he would be blamed for it. At the same time, he could not move
for a few days, as he expected a party of men to arrive about the next
new moon with ivory. My hurry he thought was uncalled for; for, as I
had spent so many days with Kamrasi, why could I not be content to do so
with him?

I was provoked beyond measure with this, as it upset all my plans.
Kidgwiga's men were deserting, and I feared I should not be able to keep
my promise to Kamrasi of sending him another white visitor, who
would perhaps do what I had left undone, when I did not follow up the
connection of the Little Luta Nzige with the Nile. We battled away
again, and then Mahamed said there was not one man in his camp who would
go with me until their crops were cut and taken in; for whilst residing
here they grew grain for their support. We battled again, and Mahamed
at last, out of patience himself, said, "Just look here, what a fix I
am in," showing me a hut full of ivory. "Who," he said, "is to carry all
this until the natives have got in their crops?" This, I said, so far
as I was concerned, was all nonsense. I merely had asked him for a guide
and interpreter, for go I must. In a huff he then absconded; and my
men--those of them who were not too drunk--came and said to me, "For
Godsake let us stop here. Mahamed says the road is too dangerous for us
to go alone; he has promised to carry all our loads for us if we stop;
and all Kamrasi's men are running away, because they are afraid to go
on."

6th.--Next morning I called Kidgwiga, and begged him to procure two men
as guides and interpreters. He said he could not find any. I then went
at Mahamed again, who first said he would give me the two men I wanted,
then went off, and sent word to say he would not be visible for three
days. This was too much for my patience, so I ordered all my things to
be tied up in marching order, and gave out that I should leave and find
out the way myself the following morning. Like an evil spirit stirred
up, my preparations for going no sooner were heard of than Mahamed
appeared again, and after a long and sharp contest in words, he promised
us guides if I would consent to write him a note, testifying that my
going was against his expressed desire.

This was