old story over again--he would have one more wire
and a cloth, or else he would not allow us to proceed on the morrow. My
men, this time really provoked, said they would fight it out;--a king
breaking his word in that way! But in the end the demand had to be paid;
and at last, at 9 P.M., the drums beat the satisfaction.

From this we went on to the north end of Wanga, in front of which was
a wilderness, separating the possessions of Rohinda from those of
Suwarora. We put up in a boma, but were not long ensconced there when
the villagers got up a pretext for a quarrel, thinking they could
plunder us of all our goods, and began pitching into my men. We,
however, proved more than a match for them. Our show of guns frightened
them all out of the place; my men then gave chase, firing off in the
air, which sent them flying over the fields, and left us to do there as
we liked until night, when a few of the villagers came back and took up
their abode with us quietly. Next, after dark, the little village was on
the alert again. The Watuta were out marching, and it was rumoured
that they were bound for M'yaruwamba's. The porters who were engaged at
Pongo's now gave us the slip: we were consequently detained here next
day (19th), when, after engaging a fresh set, we crossed the wilderness,
and in Usui put up with Suwarora's border officer of this post,
N'yamanira.

Here we were again brought to a standstill.

Chapter VII. Usui

Taxation recommenced--A Great Doctor--Suwarora pillaging--The
Arabs--Conference with an Ambassador from Uganda--Disputes in
Camp--Rivalry of Bombay and Baraka--Departure from the Inhospitable
Districts.

We were now in Usui, and so the mace-bearers, being on their own ground
forgot their manners, and peremptorily demanded their pay before they
would allow us to move one step farther. At first I tried to stave
the matter off, promising great rewards if they took us quickly on to
Suwarora; but they would take no alternative--their rights were four
wires each. I could not afford such a sum, and tried to beat them down,
but without effect; for they said, they had it in their power to detain
us here a whole month, and they could get us bullied at every stage
by the officers of the stations. No threats of reporting them to their
chief had any effect, so, knowing that treachery in these countries was
a powerful enemy, I ordered them to be paid. N'yamanira, the Mkungu,
then gave us a goat and two pots o