X.] THE EOAD BLOCKED. 137 



These proved to be an embassy from Taka, cliief of Eastern December, 

 Ugara, proceeding to Unyanyembe to hold a palaver respecting i^*^^- 

 a misunderstanding which had arisen owing to the head-man of 

 a village having been shot by an Arab in a sqnabble. Taka was 

 now sending to Said ibn Salim and Abdallah ibn Nassib to ar- 

 range this matter, and meanwhile the road through Ugara was 

 blocked. 



Every effort to persuade this embassy to turn back and ac- 

 company me to Taka's village was unavailing, and we were 

 compelled to return to Ilisinene. All the bright hopes of the 

 morning were thus dashed to the ground, and a lengthened de- 

 lay appeared inevitable. 



