, including thyself; seven of us
are for the southern road, and thou, and I, and Sultan bin Ali are for
taking the northern road."

"Yes," said Sheikh Mohammed, "for this reason. We are over 600 strong,
all armed with guns. It is true we shall have to pay tribute to the
Warori and the Watuta, and may experience some trouble from the Wahehe,
who are dogs and sons of dogs; but the tribute, if we pay any, will not
be much, and will be cheaper in the end than the three months we would
lose on the southern road; besides, we save the cloth we would have to
pay the Wagogo, who are insolent besides being extortionate. Three
months on the road cost us altogether about 900 doti, or fifteen bales
of cloth. Put the Warori tribute against the Wagogo, and we have
fifteen bales of cloth, out of which we can pay the tribute to the
Watuta. It is evident we effect a saving, besides gaining three months
time."

"That is a very good way of putting it," said Amer, "but what dost thou
say, Khamis, about the comparative safety of the two roads? Is there
more danger to be apprehended from the Warori and the Watuta than we, a
trading caravan, would care to meet?"

"That is the view we should take of the matter, and not of the little
cloth we should save," responded Khamis. "Experience tells me to avoid
the Warori, if possible, but above all the Watuta. The Warori are brave
and strong, and sometimes very dangerous; but I have always heard the
Watuta were dangerous, that they are a fierce tribe who live by robbing
caravans, and I should not like to undertake to decide for the southern
road without the concurrence of every chief here present."

"Well, thou hast my consent if thou dost require it, and if God pleases
he can guide us in safety through any tribe in Africa. Far be it from
me to disagree with those who know better than I what roads to take, and
what will best serve our interests," said Amer.

"And if thou dost require mine for thy decision," said old Sultan bin
Ali, "I shall not deny the right of any of the other chiefs to have as
much a voice in the caravan as I have; so now, friend Khamis, thou hast
the liberty to agree or disagree, and hast a right to decide whether
thou wilt lead us through Urori or through Ugogo to the ivory country."

"I have only one voice in the matter, and if ye are all of one consent
that it is better for us to march by the southern road, and still of one
mind that I shall lead ye, I have nothin