414 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



the coast. There we paid off and dismissed our 

 men, giving them presents according to the 

 length and faithfulness of their service. They 

 took them and departed, eagerly, as was natural, 

 to the families and the pleasures from which 

 they had been so long separated. Mohammed said 

 good-bye, and went, and was sorry ; Eongoni 

 departed, after many and sincere protestations ; 

 quiet little Mavrouki came back three times to 

 shake hands again, and disappeared reluctantly 

 but disappeared ; Leyeye went ; Abba Ali fol- 

 lowed the service of his master, C. ; " Timothy " 

 received his present in which he was disap- 

 pointed and departed with salaams. Only 

 Memba Sasa remained. I paid him for his long 

 service, and I gave him many and rich presents, 

 and bade farewell to him with genuine regret 

 and affection. 



Memba Sasa had wives and a farm near town, 

 neither of which possessions he had seen for a 

 very long while. Nevertheless he made no move 

 to see them. When our final interview had ter- 

 minated with the usual " Bags " (It is finished), 

 he shook hands once more and withdrew, but 

 only to take his position across the street. There 

 he squatted on his heels, fixed his eyes upon me, 

 and remained. I went down town on business. 



