l short-service men had a right to expect more in
proportion to their work than long-service ones; they called it all love
and partiality, and in their envy would think themselves ill-used.

At night the kirangozi would harangue the camp, cautioning all hands
to keep together on the line of march, as the Watuta were constantly
hovering about, and the men should not squabble and fight with their
master, else no more white men would come this way again. On the 11th we
were out of Bogue, in the district of Ugomba, and next march brought
us into Ugombe (12th), where we crossed the Ukongo nullah, draining
westwards to the Malagarai river. Here some of the porters, attempting
to bolt, were intercepted by my coast-men and had a fight of it, for
they fired arrows, and in return the coast-men cut their bows. The whole
camp, of course, was in a blaze at this; their tribe was insulted, and
they would not stand it, until Bombay put down their pride with a few
strings of beads, as the best means of restoring peace in the camp.

At this place we were visited by the chief of the district, Pongo
(Bush-boc), who had left his palace to see us and invite us his way, for
he feared we might give him the slip by going west into Uyofu. He sent
us a cow, and said he should like some return; for Masudi, who had
gone ahead, only gave him a trifle, professing to be our vanguard, and
telling him that as soon as we came with the large caravan we would
satisfy him to his heart's content. We wished for an interview, but he
would not see us, as he was engaged looking into his magic horn, with an
endeavour to see what sort of men we were, as none of our sort had ever
come that way before.

The old sort of thing occurred again. I sent him one kitambi and eight
yards kiniki, explaining how fearfully I was reduced from theft and
desertions, and begging he would have mercy; but instead of doing so he
sent the things back in a huff, after a whole day's delay, and said he
required, besides, one sahari, one kitambi, and eight yards kiniki. In a
moment I sent them over, and begged he would beat the drums; but no,
he thought he was entitled to ten brass wires, in addition, and would
accept them at his palace the next day, as he could not think of
allowing us to leave his country until we had done him that honour, else
all the surrounding chiefs would call him inhospitable.

Too knowing now to be caught with such chaff, I told him, through
Bombay, if he would