446 LETTERS TO DR. SCHWEINFURTH. 



him. I have sent men with presents to Kanna, for I am 

 very desirous of establishing friendly relations with him. 

 Hitherto he has always kept very much aloof; but the expe- 

 rience this part of the country had of the Danagla, who pro- 

 fessed to be officials, was scarcely calculated to inspire him 

 with a desire for annexation, or even with confidence. This 

 has now been remedied, I hope ; I have acted honestly, and 

 the new organisation of the country may be more in accordance 

 with its needs and wishes, especially as it was drawn up after 

 consultation with the most influential chiefs — which brings me 

 back to these men. 



The three great chiefs, Yangara, Gambari, and Kadabo, 

 now rule the north of this country from west to east. The 

 two latter are parvenus, but Yangara is a true Monbuttu 

 prince, though sprung from a collateral branch. Kadabo does 

 not rule in Monbuttu proper, but in Momvii, in the far east, 

 and therefore may be able to maintain his position with our 

 assistance. How long Gambari will be able to do so is very 

 problematical, considering his ceaseless intrigues and plots. 

 It is his intention to collect all the arms he can get hold of, 

 and then to occupy the Mabode district, where his favourite 

 brother, Arama, is said to have established a dominion already. 

 I will watch these proceedings for some time longer, and then, 

 if there is no improvement, I will request that the rifles be 

 given up, and will look out for another chief who is legitimate, 

 and at the same time more sensible than Gambari. Yangara, 

 on the other hand, was an excellent companion during my stay 

 at Tingazi. He is somewhat timid, perhaps more so than is 

 desirable in a man of his position, but he is honourable and 

 prudent, and has hitherto proved a trustworthy ally. When 

 Ghattas's people killed Munza, they of course divided his 

 wives between them, and in some way or other it came to pass 

 that Munza's youngest and favourite wife, Kettivoto (called by 

 the Arabs, Tarn Sema), is now Yangara's chief wife and adviser, 

 and seems to deserve the influence she enjoys, for she exhibits 

 much common sense whenever she takes part in consultations. 

 She is not pretty, is no longer young, nor has she ever had 

 any children — which is remarkable in a Monbuttu woman — 

 and yet her superiority is recognised, not only in Tingazi, but 



