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TRAVELS m EASTERN' AFRICA 



453 



shortly after noon on that day he had heard shots 

 fired and men shouting, and running out from his 

 camp he saw my men passing. He asked what they 

 were doing ; and they repHed, " We are going to the 

 coast ; our time has expired." He said that he had 

 attempted to reason with them, but they had told him 

 to mind his business. He was sure I could bring back 

 all the men, but that there was only one way to do 

 it, — I must write a letter to Hamidi. He said, " Don't 

 go yourself, or let George go. The men are in a 

 state of wild excitement, and I have had enough ex- 

 perience with Zanzibari, in all my years of travel in 

 East Africa, to know that when in that state they 

 are not in any way amenable to reason." 



These words did not make much impression upon 

 me ; but I knew that if I should attempt to drive 

 the men back with the small force at my disposal, 

 they would always be able to say that they had been 

 forced back against their wills ; and they would take 

 advantage of the first opportunity to desert. If I could 

 not keep them together in a strong camp like that 

 at Daitcho, it would be impossible to prevent desertions 

 while on the march, as I had found by experience. 



One of the men in the traders' caravan then at 

 Daitcho was able to write Arabic; so I sent for him, 

 and had the following letter written to Hamidi : — 



" Hamidi, — This morning, early, all the Zanzibari 

 except seven left camp, and said they were going to 

 you at the river. I asked them why, but could get 

 no answer. 



" I do not know if this is your work. If it is not 

 your work, send a letter, or give it to Gwaharam, 



