24 ACROSS AFRICA. [Chap. 



February, Bagamojo, the principa,! point of departure for caravans 



1873. bound to Unyanyembe and the countries beyond, is a town on 



the main -land directly opposite Zanzibar. It is hidden from 



the sea by sand-hills, but marked by the tall cocoa-nut palms 



which always indicate the habitationfe of man on this coast. 



It consists of one long straggling street wdth a few stone 

 houses, the rest being mere huts of wattle and dab, having huge 

 sloping roofs thatched with the plaited fronds of the cocoa-nut 

 palm ; and it boasts of two or three mosques, frequented only 

 on high -days and holidays. A varied assemblage of Indian 

 merchants, Arabs, Wasuahili, and Wamerima, slaves and "Wan- 

 yamwezi pagazi, compose its population. 



Taking wath us only a few necessaries, we went on shore to 

 look for lodgings, and were met, on landing, by a messenger 

 from the French mission, shortly followed by Pere Horner and 

 one of the lay brothers, who came to offer their assistance. 



After a great deal of chaffering and bargaining, we hired for 

 ourselves the upper rooms of a stone house, the owner, Abdul- 

 lah Dina (a Koja), taking twenty-five dollars instead of the for- 

 ty-five he had at first asked. For our men and stores we se- 

 cured a house which belonged to Jemidar Issa, the comman- 

 dant of the Balooch garrison of H.H. Syd Burghash. 



Early the next morning we superintended landing cargo, go- 

 ing backward and forward the whole time between head-qiTar- 

 ters, barracks, and beach. Yet, notwithstanding all our care, a 

 bag of salt, a case of parafiine, one of preserved meats, and, of 

 still greater importance, our large cooking-lamp, were missing 

 when the debarkation was completed. 



At first we were disposed to blame a Hindi whom we had 

 engaged at Zanzibar to look after the transport of our stores; 

 l)ut I l)elieve carelessness, and not dishonesty, was his failing in 

 this instance. 



Jemidar Issa readily gave us permission to fly the colors and 

 post sentries at head -quarters and barracks, and returned our 

 call in the forenoon, offering us all the courtesies and assistance 

 in his powei". 



We told him of our losses, and he promised redress. But as 

 this consisted only in the offer of putting the unfortunate Hin- 

 di in irons, and sending him over to the sultan for further pun- 



