THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 427 



rich and populous. He was denied admission at the village gate* 

 and had to camp near a pool of clear water beside a number of 

 ruined huts. 



Owing to the general insecurity felt by every village since 

 Mirambo had begun his guerilla warfare, the chief of Manyara 

 refused to sell Stanley any grain or provisions, claiming that he 

 was prohibited by the district governor from having any commu- 

 nication with caravans. 



Stanley was much disappointed by this refusal, but relying on 

 diplomacy to procure provisions, he selected two royal cloths 

 from a bale and gave them to Bombay with an order to deliver 

 them to the chief, with his compliments. Bombay carried out 

 his master's orders, but the chief refused the presents, and in a 

 husky voice told Bombay that he did not want to be bothered. 

 In consequence of this futile effort to obtain food the men had 

 to go to bed supperless. On the following morning Stanley 

 sent Bombay again, with four royal cloths and a quantity of 

 brass, which the chief received with much delight, and sent in 

 return a large supply of honey, fowls, goats, beans, etc., enough 

 to last four days. 



This evidence of astonishing liberality was shortly after fol- 

 lowed by a visit from the chief himself, together with several 

 other prominent natives. Stanley received them politely, on a 

 piece of Persian carpet and a bear-skin. They looked at him 

 with great surprise, he being the first white man they had ever 

 seen, and gave expression to their wonder by fits of laughter. 

 The Winchester rifle elicited a thousand flattering remarks, while 

 they looked upon the revolvers as pieces of magic. When a 

 double-barreled shot-gun was discharged near them, they jumped 

 with remarkable elasticity, but seeing no harm was done, they 

 fell to laughing in the most immoderate manner. As their 

 enthusiasm increased, they seized each other's index fingers, 

 screwed them, and pulled at them until it seemed as if those 

 useful members would be dislocated. After having explaind to 

 them the difference between white men and Arabs, Stanley 

 pulled out his medicine chest, which evoked another burst of 



