68 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT chap. 



was on his way to our camp. Soon he appeared, an old 

 man bowed down with years, with features quite Euro- 

 pean, a short and ill-trimmed white beard, and a well- 

 shaped head. While walking he supported himself with 

 a stick, and he wore, thrown loosely over his shoulders, 

 a square cloak, made of some rough, white cloth of 

 native manufacture. He brought with him, as a present, 

 a goat, two chickens, and some honey. 



By means of Sadi, I had a long palaver with him. 

 We parted good friends, and I gave him notice that I 

 would return his visit in the afternoon. We established 

 trade relations, after which trade became very brisk. 

 The natives were very timorous at the outset, but 

 through the efforts of Sadi they soon gained confidence, 

 and as the prices he gave them seemed very good, 

 they were constantly offering to trade. For ten pounds 

 of corn about fifteen inches of the cheapest cotton 

 goods were given. 



The canoes were anchored just below our camp, 

 which was on an open sandy ridge, about ten yards from 

 the river. Sadi and his boatmen pitched their tents 

 just on the brink of the stream, under a wide-spreading 

 tree, which even at noon-time cast a deep shade. By 

 twos and threes the Pokomo canoes came across the 

 river, laden with produce, which they took to Sadi's 

 tent, where it was measured and its equivalent in cloth 

 given for it. Soon a great pile of sacks was to be seen 

 near the market-place, w^iich gave an air of plenty to 

 the camp. 



At 5 P.M. Lieutenant von Hbhnel and I, together 

 with Sadi, went to the chief's quarters with a present. 

 After a little conversation we endeavoured to get some 



