X 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



461 



I called the Zanzibar! traders to me, and had a 

 long talk with them about leaving my goods in their 

 charge, while I returned to the coast, and formed a 

 fresh expedition. They seemed unwilling to do this ; 

 so we came to no agreement. We now had in the 

 zeriba sixteen men in all, including George and me 

 — a truly noble force ! However, our camp was 

 strong ; and although the natives might possibly at- 

 tempt to take advantage of our small numbers, I felt 

 strong enough for defence ; so I decided to wait at 

 least until after Christmas before taking any action. 

 The Beloochi had promised that, as soon as they 

 reached the place where George had left the don- 

 keys, they would send back word as to the way 

 matters there stood, and as to what the deserters 

 had done. 



At this time our position was not one to fill me 

 with good cheer. We were fairly safe where we were, 

 but the expedition was utterly broken up, and there 

 remained no thought, but how to get back to the 

 coast; for I felt confident that the men upon their 

 arrival there would spread tales which would reach 

 Europe and frighten my people. I had six men at 

 the food station at Sayer; but though I felt con- 

 vinced they would have joined the mutineers, had 

 they been present, still they had not, and conse- 

 quently I could not leave them behind. 



Hussein Mahomet was surprised that I neither shot 

 him nor put him in chains for having deserted. 

 One day he came to me without solicitation, and told 

 me that Birindgi and Moussa had for the preceding 

 month been very thick with the porters ; and as they 



