136 THE TLAGUE IN ASHIRA-LAND. Chap. VH, 



bably with a view to plunder me, and I suspected 

 Ondonga to be at the bottom of it, as it was he who 

 had repeatedly told me that Arangui still remained 

 in Otando. I soon learnt, on further inquiry, that 

 several of the loads had never reached Mayolo at all, 

 that the porters had gone back to their plantations 

 with them, no doubt by orders of Arangui, who 

 would have a large share of tlie spoil afterwards ; 

 the porters had scattered themselves along the forest 

 road, some sleeping in one place and some in another, 

 and almost every load had been rifled of part of its 

 contents. My men had been tired of waiting for me, 

 and they told me that the Otando messengers, who had 

 returned in such hot haste, were driven from Ashira- 

 land by the threats of Arangui, who had seized one 

 of them, and made him prisoner. Thinking that 

 something was wrong, my men had resolved to 

 despatch three of their number, well armed, to know 

 the cause of my detention. 



I W'as now in a very unpleasant position. It was 

 no satisfaction to hear that Arangui had shown 

 violent anger on the discovery of the robbery, for I 

 well knew the hypocrisy of the African character. 

 I had been shamefidly robbed, with the connivance 

 of the head men of Olenda, and in addition one of 

 Mayolo's messengers was detained a prisoner, with- 

 out whose release I should never be allowed to enter 

 the Otando territory. I told my men to say nothing 

 about the robbery, my object being not to excite 

 any fears of punishment until I had obtained porters 

 to enable me to get away from the place. 



It was a difficult matter to conceal my indignation, 



