352 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS. [Chap. XI I L 



It is exactly what took place in America — slave-owners 

 are bad neighbours everywhere. Canada was threatened, 

 England browbeaten, and the Northerners all but kicked 

 on the same score, and all as if property in slaves had 

 privileges which no other goods have. To hear the Arabs 

 say of the slaves after they are fled, " Oh, they are bad, bad, 

 very bad ! " (and they entreated me too to free them from 

 the yoke), is, as the young ladies say, " too absurd." The 

 chiefs also who do not apprehend fugitives, they too are 

 "bad." 



I proposed to Mohamad Bogharib to send back the 

 women seized by Bin Juma, to show the Babemba that he 

 disapproved of the act and was willing to make peace, 

 but this was too humiliating ; I added that their price as 

 slaves was four barrels of gunpowder or 160 dollars, while 

 slaves lawfully bought would have cost him only eight or 

 ten yards of calico each. At the conclusion of Mpamari's 

 speech the four barrels of gunpowder were exhibited, and 

 so was the Koran, to impress them (Muabo's people) with 

 -an idea of their great power. 



'28th and 29th November. — It is proposed to go and force 

 our way if we can to the north, but all feel that that 

 would be a fine opportunity for the slaves to escape, and 

 they would not be loth to embrace it ; this makes it a 

 serious matter, and the Koran is consulted at hours which 

 are auspicious. 



30th November. — Messengers sent to Muabo to ask a path, 

 or in plain words protection from him ; Mpamari protests 

 his innocence of the whole affair. 



1st December, 1868. — Muabo's people over again; would 

 fain send them to make peace with Chapi ! 



2nd December. — The detention is excessively vexatious to 

 me. Muabo sent three slaves as offers of peace — a fine 

 self-imposed, but he is on our south side, and we wish to 

 go north. 



