XI 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



489 



after I arrived at Mwyru's, two Zanzibar! turned up, 

 covered with wounds. They said they were the sole 

 survivors of a party of thirty traders, who had spent 

 the preceding three months in the purchase of slaves 

 and ivory from the Kikuyu. After setting out on 

 their way home, and when two days' march from the 

 confines of the Kikuyu territory, they were fallen 

 upon at night, their property stolen, and all but them- 

 selves slain. 



As soon as my arrival at Mwyru's village became 

 known, several slaves ran to my camp, and craved my 

 assistance for them to return to their people. Those 

 who lived far away I could do nothing for, but two 

 of them were Kikuyu women, and I knew that I could 

 take them to the mission at Kibwezi, whence they 

 could be forwarded to Kikuyu by one of the British 

 trading caravans marching in that direction. 



On January 24 we set out from Mwyru's. We had 

 hardly left the village ere the air was filled with 

 shouts, and a party of from 500 to 600 Wakamba ap- 

 peared. They sent a party of their old men to us, 

 for the purpose of insisting upon a return of the 

 slaves. I asked the women if they wished to return ; 

 but they shuddered, and said " No." So I refused to 

 give them up ; whereupon the Wakamba gave vent 

 to fierce shouts, placed their arrows in their bows, and 

 the old men made a dash at the women as though to 

 seize them. My caravan by this time had proceeded 

 on its way, and was almost out of sight ; but I had 

 two men with me. We laid about us with the butts of 

 our rifles, and soon had the old men flying back to their 

 companions. Luckily not an arrow was discharged. 



