1870.] THE DESEETERS. 57 



that they would go to me, and do all I desired : they 

 never came, but, as no one else would take them, I gave 

 them three loads to go to JBambarre ; there they told 

 Mohamad that I would not give them beads, and they did 

 not like to steal ; they were now trying to get his food by 

 lies. I invited them three times to come and take beads, 

 but having supplies of food from the camp women, they 

 hoped to get the upper hand with me, and take what they 

 liked by refusing to carry or work. Mohamad spoke long- 

 to them, but speaking mildly makes them imagine that the 

 spokesman is afraid of them. They kept away from my 

 work and would fain join Mohamad's, but he won't have 

 them. I gave beads to all but the ringleaders. Their 

 conduct looks as if a quarrel had taken place between us, 

 but no such excuse have they. 



I am powerless, as they have left me, and think that they 

 may do as they like, and the " Manyuema are bad " is the 

 song. Their badness consists in being dreadfully afraid of 

 guns, and the Arabs can do just as they like with them and 

 their goods. If spears alone were used the Manyuema would 

 be considered brave, for they fear no one, though he has 

 many spears. They tell us truly " that were it not for our 

 guns not one of us would return to our own country." 

 Moenemokaia killed two Arab agents, and took their guns ; 

 this success led to their asserting, in answer to the remon- 

 strances of the women, " We shall take their goats, guns, 

 and women from them." The chief, in reporting the matter 

 to Moenemger(?) at Luamo, said, "The Englishman told 

 my people to go away as he did not like fighting, but my 

 men were filled with 'malofu,' or palm-toddy, and refused 

 to their own hurt." Elsewhere they made regular prepara- 

 tion to have a fight with Dugumbe's people, just to see who 

 was strongest — they with their spears and wooden shields, 

 and the Arabs with what in derision they called tobacco- 

 pipes (guns). They killed eight or nine Arabs. 



