WITH FLASH-LIGHT AND RIFLE 



tain, a few days' journey from the Kilimanjaro, where 

 the natives were reported to be peaceful and friendly. 

 The inhabitants of the neighboring settlements Cc^me 

 as usual to our camp, the women to sell fruit and vege- 

 tables, the men to look around and to chat with the 

 carriers. They were, however, silent and sullen when I 

 addressed them, and soon retired to their banana groves. 

 The leader of our expedition being absent, my friend 

 Alfred Kaiser and I were in charge of the camp. Tow- 

 ards evening a deputation of old men, led by a negro 

 named "Shimdi," a political agent attached to Fort 

 Moschi, came to the camp and requested a conference, 

 which was granted. ' Kaiser, in whose tent the " shauri " 

 was held, and who knew Arabic, conducted the meeting 

 through an interpreter. The natives informed us that 

 the Tvoitomasai intended to attack the caravan. If we 

 wished it, they would join forces with us for our and 

 their own defence, and they placed a number of spear- 

 men at our disposal, who were to aid us in garrisoning 

 our camp. I remembered the sullenness of the natives, 

 and both Kaiser and I suspected Mr. "Shundi" of 

 double-dealing. We declined the offer most politely, 

 and, in the hearing of the deputation, we instructed 

 our guards to be particularly watchful during the night 

 and to be sure to fire at any one approaching the camp. 

 We were not molested that night. Upon reporting our 

 experience to the officials in Fort Moschi, they only 



smiled incredulously. 



388 



