VI.] DEFEAT OF AN ARAB EXPEDITION. 77 



lows, as subsequent events proved, determined to light his way June, 

 through Ugogo without paying tribute, and with this view col- ^^'^^- 

 lected about nine hundred people, and openly declared his in- 

 tentions. 



The Wagogo never even waited for his approach, but filled 

 up the pools, burned their houses and such stores as they could 

 not carry, and retreated into the jungle with their wives, chil- 

 dren, cattle, and all their movables. The Arab and his men, 

 though quite prepared to contend with human foes, were beat- 

 en by hunger and thirst ; and while some returned to Unyan- 

 yembe, whence they had started, many more died of starvation, 

 and only eight or ten reached Mpwapwa in safety. It is said 

 that six or seven hundred men perished in this attempt. 



Ugogo is about one hundred miles square, but is divided into 

 numerous independent chieftainships, in each of which mliongo 

 has to be paid, and delay experienced. 



The country is arid and parched during the dry season, but 

 in the rains, which last from November to May, is well watered, 

 and large crops of matama, which ripens in June, are easily 

 raised. It is upon the stalks of this that the cattle are princi- 

 pally fed in the drought ; and they appear in good condition, 

 notwithstanding its seeming lack of nutriment. Every tribe pos- 

 sesses a herd of cattle, which is attended to by all the grown-up 

 males in rotation, the chiefs even taking their turn at this duty. 



Numerous water-courses are met with, and in their beds wa- 

 ter may frequently be obtained by digging. There are also a 

 few small natural ponds ; but, where both these resources fail, 

 the inhabitants dig pits to contain sufficient rain to last them 

 until the season again arrives. After a time the water in these 

 holes becomes indescribably nauseous, and is very often ren- 

 dered brackish by the large amount of salt in the soil. 



On the 22d of June we moved to Mvumi, the village of the 

 chief of the first division of Ugogo, and were thoroughly ini- 

 tiated into the vexations of paying mhongo, and the manner in 

 which negotiations respecting the amount are conducted. 



At the moment of our arrival, the chief and his people were 

 celebrating the obsequies of one of his sisters, who had de- 

 parted this life a week j^reviously, and, consequently, every 

 one was drunk. 



6 



