FEESH DEMANDS FOR HONGO 



151 



gave his visitors a hearty welcome and amused them consider- 

 ably. Just as they were leaving came the request for some of 

 the mighty dana, or medicine, of which they had heard from 

 our people. This medicine meant rockets, 1 and the Count 

 promised to send Mhoke to fetch some. The pouring rain had 

 thus far kept the natives away from the camp, but in the after- 

 noon they came in crowds, warriors being in the majority. 

 Some 200 armed men had also taken up their position close to 

 us, whilst another hundred or so were divided from them by a 

 banana-hedge. Their bearing showed that there was something 

 unpleasant in the wind, so Count Teleki ordered his handful of 

 men — he had now only fourteen with him — to have their 

 weapons ready. After a long, excited shauri, the leader of 

 the larger body of warriors came to the Count and demanded 

 a considerable hongo. Of course, as Teleki had nothing with 

 him he could only refuse this request. Another noisy shauri 

 ensued, and then back came the ultimatum : ' We are tired of 

 promises ; either give us our tribute or be off.' There was no 

 doubt they were in earnest this time, so, to gain time, Teleki 

 temporised, saying he must first speak to the chief. It now 

 turned out that these warriors did not belong to Mount Meru, 

 but came from Arusha-wa-ju, for they replied, 'Sultan Matunda 

 has nothing to do with the matter ; we are masters here.' 



As it seemed hopeless either to satisfy or drive off the 

 warriors, and it would be easier to fight in the broken ground 

 through which we had passed than in the open, Count Teleki 

 now replied that it was impossible for him to give a hongo, so 

 he would leave at once. He then ordered his men to pack up, 

 but to keep their weapons handy. This very unexpected 

 answer brought about an immediate change of front in the 



1 The rockets so often referred to are found most useful by travellers in Africa, 

 as the natives associate them with magic. The letting-off of a few rockets at night 

 is a greater protection to a camp than anything else. — Trans. 



