t night.

_27th November, 1868._--Two of Muabo's men came over to bring on a
parley; one told us that he had been on the south side of the village
before, and heard one man say to another "mo pige" (shoot him).
Mpamari gave them a long oration in exculpation, but it was only the
same everlasting, story of fugitive slaves. The slave-traders cannot
prevent them from escaping, and impudently think that the country
people ought to catch them, and thus be their humble servants, and
also the persecutors of their own countrymen! If they cannot keep
them, why buy them--why put their money into a bag with holes?

It is exactly what took place in America--slave-owners are bad
neighbours everywhere. Canada was threatened, England browbeaten, and
the Northerners all but kicked on the same score, and all as if
property in slaves had privileges which no other goods have. To hear
the Arabs say of the slaves after they are fled, "Oh, they are bad,
bad, very bad!" (and they entreated me too to free them from the
yoke), is, as the young ladies say, "too absurd." The chiefs also who
do not apprehend fugitives, they too are "bad."

I proposed to Mohamad Bogharib to send back the women seized by Bin
Juma, to show the Babemba that he disapproved of the act and was
willing to make peace, but this was too humiliating; I added that
their price as slaves was four barrels of gunpowder or 160 dollars,
while slaves lawfully bought would have cost him only eight or ten
yards of calico each. At the conclusion of Mpamari's speech the four
barrels of gunpowder were exhibited, and so was the Koran, to impress
them (Muabo's people) with an idea of their great power.

_28th and 29th November, 1868._--It is proposed to go and force our
way if we can to the north, but all feel that that would be a fine
opportunity for the slaves to escape, and they would not be loth to
embrace it; this makes it a serious matter, and the Koran is consulted
at hours which are auspicious.

_30th November, 1868._--Messengers sent to Muabo to ask a path, or in
plain words protection from him; Mpamari protests his innocence of the
whole affair.

_1st December, 1868._--Muabo's people over again; would fain send them
to make peace with Chapi!

_2nd December, 1868._--The detention is excessively vexatious to me.
Muabo sent three slaves as offers of peace--a fine self-imposed, but
he is on our south side, and we wish to go north.

_3rd December, 1868._--A party went to-day