XL] A EOYAL PROGRESS. 143 



plaits, lying close to the head, and having something the appear- December, 

 ance of the ridges of a iield ; and occasionally they make it into ^^'^- 

 large, cushion - like masses, padded out with bark -fibres. The 

 two latter methods of hair-dressing occupy two or three days ; 

 but when the work of art is finished, it remains undisturbed 

 for six months, or even longer. 



Mrima IS'gombe, being engaged in making a royal progress 

 through his dominions, called on me here. He was dressed in 

 a scarlet burnose trimmed with gold embroidery, which looked 

 rather odd over his greasy waistcloth, his only other garment. 

 He was much displeased with the head-man of Hisinene, and 

 reprimanded him for not having paid me sufficient attention or 

 supplied me with pombe. 



On the 28th of December, Asmani arrived with the welcome 

 news that a settlement of the misunderstanding had been ac- 

 complished, and that we could now pass through Ugara with- 

 out let or hinderance. But, since the embassy had remained 

 behind on a spree, we were advised to make a detour to avoid 

 their village, otherwise we might be suspected of having mur- 

 dered them. 



With Asmani came some of Said ibn Salim's men, bringing 

 a few of my deserters and a hint to beware of Mirambo, as one 

 of the Watosi — a tribe of herdsmen, of whom many are settled 

 at Unj-anyembe — had been detected conveying to him infor- 

 mation of the route we proposed to follow. 



They expressed the hope that I should be pleased on hearing 

 that the unfortunate Mtosi had been shot for carrying the news 

 to Mirambo. This act was doubtless intended as a piece of ci- 

 vility, but it was one with which I could well have dispensed. 

 Nothing further had been done towai-d perfecting a plan for 

 the campaign against Mirambo, owing to a difference of opin- 

 ion as to the selection of a leader. 



The ofiicer who had brought the re-enforcements from the 

 coast wished to take chief command, civil and military; but 

 this Said ibn Salim and Abdallah ibn Nassib refused to allow, 

 as they were both senior to him in the Sultan's service. The 

 new troops stood by their own commanding officer, while the 

 Belooches and others, who had been serving under Said ibn Sa- 

 lim and Abdallah ibn Nassib, refused to recognize the new- 



