264 ACEOSS AFEICA. [Chap. 



August, factories of Syde ibn Habib and others being under the charge 

 1874. Qf confidential slaves. 



Tanganyika showed me the house he had lent to Living- 

 stone. It belonged to, and was occupied at that time by, one 

 of his wives, whom he turned out of her home for the conven- 

 ience of the doctor. 



That part of my caravan which journeyed by land arrived 

 two days after me, and I instantly made endeavors to collect 

 canoes for the attempt at floating down the river to the sea. 



Syde Mezrui, notwithstanding his boasted acquaintance with 

 the chiefs, proved to be of very small consequence, and con- 

 tented himself with constantly asking for beads. When re- 

 fused by me, Bombay and Bilal, in sj)ite of my positive orders 

 to the contrary, gave him what he wanted, until I detected the 

 little game, and locked my beads up in Tanganyika's ivory- 

 store. 



Tanganyika offered to assist me in every thing in his power, 

 but said that Muinyi Dugumbi was regarded as head-man by 

 the natives, and therefore nmst be consulted. That individual 

 altogether failed to understand the object of being in a hurry ; 

 and, as I had only arrived a few days, thought that surely a 

 month or so hence would be time enough to think about ca- 

 noes. I would not leave him till he promised that he would 

 try to persuade the natives to sell me some canoes on the 

 first market-day. Others made some show of affording aid, 

 but they always said, " Slowly, slowly ; don't be in a hurry ; 

 to-morrow will d<^ as well as to-day ;" and so the matter dragged 

 along. 



Every fourth day large markets were held in each part of 

 the settlement ; and as the neighboring chiefs and canoe-own- 

 ers came to them, I had great hopes of getting what I required. 

 At the first that occurred after my arrival, I found cowries, 

 goats, and slaves were the only currency available in large pur- 

 chases ; and being without these, I could do no trade. Tangan- 

 yika induced some men to promise they would think about sell- 

 ing their canoes if I obtained cowries, and also arranged to take 

 Bombay across the river, and through the strip inhabited by the 

 Wagenya to the woods Avliere canoes were made. 



Early in the morning of market-day canoes appeared on the 



