148 TAVETA AND MOUNTS KILIMANJAEO AND MERU 



wliicli just tlien broke tliroiigli the clouds. Every uow and 

 then, too, one of their guns went off, as if by accident. We 

 had httle doubt that they would all presently spring upon us, 

 and we anxiously awaited their onslaught, with revolvers and 

 guns in readiness to fire. After a long pause Matunda, accom- 

 panied by several old men, slowly approached, and informed us 

 that the warriors demanded fifteen doti merikani and fifteen 

 bundles of mikufu as liongo. Count Teleki explained that we 

 had not brought any articles of barter with us, that we had 

 already paid our tribute, and this was the first time natives had 

 asked for hongo a second time. Moreover, he added, he was 

 astonished, after the pressing invitation he had received, at 

 meeting with such a hostile reception ; as Matunda could see, 

 however, we were prepared for all emergencies, and he could 

 tell the warriors so. Matunda assured us that he had no influence 

 over them, and we could easily see how repugnant the whole 

 thing was to him. He said he was pretty sure the men would 

 stick to their demands, but he would see what he could do. 



I will not weary the reader with a detailed account of the 

 further negotiations, which lasted from half-past ten till one 

 o'clock ; suffice it to say that the natives reduced their demands 

 to five doti of stuff" and five bundles of mikufu. Of course we 

 had not them with us either, but Count Teleki promised to 

 send for them, and peace was restored. Directly afterwards 

 Matunda presented us with a goat, and we became good friends 

 with the Wameru, especially after we had shown off* our shoot- 

 ing j)Owers, for all natives delight in watching firing. The 

 first loan we had negotiated in Africa had, after all, been so 

 successful that we tried to carry through another the next day, 

 and actually got an ox for our men on credit. But the cere- 

 monies connected with the affair took such a time that it was 

 our last attempt of the kind. Though the ox belonged to one 

 persoii only, the whole pojjulation must share in the proceed- 



