1868.] SINGULAR OWL. SLAVES ESCAPE. 357 



was killed by a native as food ; a black ring round its face 

 and its black ears gave it all the appearance of a cat, 

 whose habits it follows. 



16th to 18th December. — A brother of Syde bin Habib 

 died last night : I had made up my mind to leave the 

 whole party, but Syde said that Chisabi was not to be 

 trusted, and the death of his brother having happened, it 

 would not be respectful to leave him to bury his dead alone. 

 Six of his slaves fled during the night — one, the keeper 

 of the others. A Mobemba man, who had been to the 

 coast twice with him, is said to have wished a woman who 

 was in the chain, so he loosed five out, and took her off; 

 the others made clear heels of it, and now that the grass is 

 long and green, no one can trace their course. 



Syde told me that the slaves would not have detained 

 him, but his brother's death did. We buried the youth, 

 who has been ill three months. Mpamari descended into 

 the grave with four others; a broad cloth was held over 

 them horizontally, and a little fluctuation made, as if to fan 

 those who were depositing the body in the side excavation 

 made at the bottom : when they had finished they pulled 

 in earth, and all shoved it towards them till the grave was 

 level. Mullam then came and poured a little water into and 

 over the grave, mumbled a few prayers, at which Mpamari 

 said aloud to me, " Mullam does not let his voice be heard ; " 

 and Mullam smiled to me, as if to say, " Loud enough for 

 all I shall get : " during the ceremony the women were all 

 wailing loudly. We went to the usual sitting-place, and 

 shook hands with Syde, as if receiving him back again into 

 the company of the living. 



Syde told me previously to this event that he had fought 

 the people who killed his elder brother Salem bin Habib, 

 and would continue to fight them till all their country 

 was spoiled and a desolation: there is no forgiveness with 

 Moslems for bloodshed. He killed many, and took many 



