so I
said, if he ever mentioned a gun or lucifers again, I would fight the
matter out with him, for I had not come there to be bullied. He then
gave way, and begged I would allow my men to fire a volley outside his
boma, as the Watuta were living behind a small line of granitic hills
flanking the west of his district, and he wished to show them what a
powerful force he had got with him. This was permitted; but his wisdom
in showing off was turned into ridicule; for the same evening the Watuta
made and attack on his villages and killed three of his subjects, but
were deterred from committing further damage by coming in contact
with my men, who, as soon as they saw the Watuta fighting, fired their
muskets off in the air and drove them away, they themselves at the same
time bolting into my camp, and as usual vaunting their prowess.

I then ordered a march for the next morning, and went out in the fields
to take my regular observations for latitude. Whilst engaged in this
operation, Baraka, accompanied by Wadimoyo (Heart's-stream), another
of my freeman, approached me in great consternation, whispering to
themselves. They said they had some fearful news to communicate, which,
when I heard it, they knew would deter our progress: it was of such
great moment and magnitude, they thought they could not deliver it then.
I said, "What nonsense! out with it at once. Are we such chickens that
we cannot speak about matters like men? out with it at once."

Then Baraka said, "I have just heard from Makaka, that a man who arrived
from Usui only a few minutes ago has said Suwarora is so angry with the
Arabs that he has detained one caravan of theirs in his country, and,
separating the whole of their men, has placed each of them in different
bomas, with orders to his village officers that, in case the Watuta came
into his country, without further ceremony they were to be all put to
death." I said, "Oh, Baraka, how can you be such a fool? Do you not see
through this humbug? Makaka only wishes to keep us here to frighten away
the Watuta; for Godsake be a man, and don't be alarmed at such phantoms
as these. You always are nagging at me that Bombay is the 'big' and you
are the 'small' man. Bombay would never be frightened in this silly way.
Now, do you reflect that I have selected you for this journey, as it
would, if you succeed with me in carrying out our object, stamp you for
ever as a man of great fame. Pray, don't give way, but do your b