404 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



are poor; but at least we never starve. Their reli- 

 gion is our religion. We like the Mzumgu (Euro- 

 pean), but his ways are strange ; and when we work 

 for him, we must really work hard, in order to earn 

 our pay. The European works and is energetic ; 

 and he expects us to do our share. On the contrary, 

 the Arab is a gentleman ; he never works, is as lazy 

 in his habits as we are, and consequently is more 

 easily satisfied with what we do." 



Doubtless the above statements will strike Euro- 

 peans unacquainted with African character as being, 

 to say the least, extraordinary; but, in the opinion of 

 the negro himself, I fear the treatment of the African 

 question has been undertaken with too little regard 

 for the opinions and preferences of the very people 

 whose condition all efforts of those interested in the 

 movement are professedly intended to ameliorate. I 

 doubt if there could be found upon the whole east 

 coast of Africa a single negro, who in his heart is 

 conscientiously opposed to slavery, as it exists there. 

 Undoubtedly this state of affairs is lamentable, and 

 the consensus of civilized opinion seems to demand a 

 change. Europeans for centuries have been unaccus- 

 tomed to slavery; but even when in a condition of 

 servitude, all their feelings and energies rose in an 

 effort to cast off the yoke. This does not appear to 

 be the case of the negroes of East Africa, at least of 

 those with whom I have personally come in contact, 

 and who had no inducement to give me false infor- 

 mation. 



At seven o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, 

 September 27, I bade farewell to my friend, Lieuten- 



