I.] START FROM ZANZIBAR. 23 



All "svlio thus defrauded us considered themselves perfectly February, 

 justified in cheating a government so rich and liberal as ours ^^''^■ 

 has the reputation of being, although they would have had far 

 greater scruples about swindling private individuals. 



In the second place, owing to the avowed intention of the 

 mission to abolish the slave-trade, we were thwarted and im- 

 posed upon in various underhand ways by the lower classes of 

 the Wasuahili and Wamerima. 



In addition to this, our orders being to push on with all dis- 

 patch and at all hazards, we were obliged to accept the riii-raff 

 and outscourings of the bazaars of Zanzibar and Bagamoyo, in- 

 stead of waiting for regular porters, and also had to pay them 

 double the hire of better men. 



This scarcity of porters was owing to the season of the year, 

 as the usual time for the up caravans had long passed, and no 

 down caravans had yet arrived. 



We had, therefore, to march through the worst part of the 

 rainy season with a number of men of whom not more than a 

 tenth had ever before traveled any distance into the interior, 

 and who, not being accustomed to carrying loads, gave trouble 

 at almost every step by straggling and laziness. 



Nor did the evil end here, for the majority of the men were 

 thieves, and pilfered unceasingly from their loads. Indeed, the 

 effects of this ill-advised haste in starting pursued me through- 

 out my journey across the continent. 



Bombay was commissioned to find us thirty good men and 

 true, to be our soldiers, servants, and donkey - drivers. He 

 promised all diligence and obedience, and while within ken of 

 the English consulate exerted himself apparently to the best of 

 his power. I afterward learned that he picked up his men any- 

 where in the bazaar, and a motley crew they proved. 



Besides these thirty askari, we engaged a few men as porters, 

 and bought twelve or thirteen donkeys at an average price of 

 eighteen dollars a head. 



We then embarked with our stores, men, and beasts, in two 

 hired dhows, and left Zanzibar early on Sunday morning, Feb- 

 ruary 2d, 1873, and passing through the ships of the scpiadron 

 with the union-jack and white ensign flying, made our way with 

 a fair wind to Bagamoyo, arriving there the same afternoon. 



