XXIX THROUGH THE MERU COUNTRY 357 



him, for as soon as he caught sight of her, he 

 instantly divested himself of his coat and all other 

 civilised attire which he wore when in attendance 

 upon me, and, borrowing Abbudi's spear, went and 

 made salutation to the lady, and hung over the back 

 of her chair in a most lover-like way. They held a 

 long conversation, but what it was about I know not. 

 The result, however, was that my boy came to me 

 later on and asked me to let him have a month's 

 wages (15 rupees) in brass and copper wire, so that 

 he might deck out his old sweetheart with it. 



The shauri with the chiefs lasted for a consider- 

 able time, but finally the terms of peace which I 

 proposed were agreed to by all as fair and just. 

 Mithari accepted the terms provisionally on Domi- 

 nuki's behalf, so I hope things are more peaceable 

 in that part of the country now. The whole district 

 is an exceedingly beautiful and fruitful one, and it is 

 a great pity that it should be torn by these tribal 

 dissensions. 



Quite a brisk market was now opened, and good 

 trade done between the safari and the people in the 

 locality. Mithari provided us with sheep, goat's milk, 

 and food, for which we paid him with brass and 

 copper wire and amerikani. He remained in our 

 camp as a guarantee for our safety, and kept with 

 him, as a messenger, a quaint-looking youth clothed 

 in banana leaves. 



