AN OPEX AIR FEAST 



183 



was going on at Kilimanjaro. He wound up by throwing the 

 two and a half doti merikani and the one and a quarter doti 

 bendera at the heads of the recalcitrant guides, which put an 

 end to the discussion. We finally secured the four men who 

 had been guides in 1884 to Mr. H. H. Johnston. 



In the afternoon there was another war dance, in which, at 

 our request, our men were allowed to take part, the combined 

 forces attacking with great bravery the imaginary foe. We 

 were to start the next day, leaving ten of our men with Miriali ; 

 ten others were to take Jumbe Kimemeta to Taveta, and the 

 rest to go up the mountain with us. 



We were up betimes on June 14, though it was bitterly 

 cold, but there were so many little things to do that it was 

 eight o'clock before we could start. Miriali went a little way 

 with us, and under his guidance we marched towards the moun- 

 tain up hill and down dale in the bright sunshine, between the 

 shady hedges of his plantations, and over several little streams 

 and two rushing brooks with fine waterfalls. In about an hour 

 Miriali called a halt near some huts, and a regular entertain- 

 ment began. Natives brought heavy wooden vessels full of 

 pombe, and bowls of the sour liquid were solemnly emptied to 

 begin with, the people listening attentively to all their Mangi 

 had to say. Miriali was in capital spirits, and talked brightly 

 and eloquently, his sallies being greeted again and again by 

 shouts of laughter. The pombe was soon all gone. Then we 

 marched on, to halt again in half an hour in a beautiful open 

 mountain meadow. Our men went a little further on to a camp- 

 ing-place, but we stayed behind to partake of a feast spread 

 for us by Miriali, who would not let us, as he said, leave him 

 hungry. The preparations did not take more than a few 

 minutes. The animals for the meal were killed by a stab in the 

 heart, great care being taken that not a drop of blood should be 

 lost. The heart, liver, and the blood collected in the intestines 



