166 TAVETA AND MOUNTS KILIMANJARO AND MERTJ 



covetous natives of Arusha-wa-ju leads caravans to avoid it, 

 except when on their way back to the coast. The tribute ex- 

 acted is very small on the return journey, as ivory is about all 

 the traders have with them then. They generally pay their 

 way back with the weapons they no longer need, so that the 



natives are very well 

 provided with arms. 

 There are generally 

 in all these caravans 

 a certain number 

 of what are called 

 tadschiris, or rich 

 fellows ; but they 

 really are poor devils 

 enough, for there is 

 not much profit to 

 be got out of ivory 

 by anyone but the 

 Hindu creditors, who 

 are quietly waiting 

 at the coast for their 

 spoil. To lessen the 

 inevitable risk at- 

 tending expeditions 

 to the interior for 

 ivory, companies are 

 formed, the various 

 traders dividing the 

 results of each trip, and waiting for each other for this purpose 

 at Taveta or Little Arusha. Of course, it would be very much 

 simpler to sell the ivory on the coast and divide the money ; 

 but this is never done, the creditors always insisting on payment 

 in ivory. On their return journey the people of the various 



NATIVE OF LITTLE ARUSHA. 



