12 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. I 



forests of Pumwani, in the immediate neighbourhood, 

 where he made a stand. 



At the time of my arrival he was said to have looo 

 guns at his command. His followers, thus armed, he 

 employed for the most part in ravaging the neighbour- 

 ing Arab plantations and native villages. What plunder, 

 such as slaves, etc., he managed to acquire by these 

 raids, he exchanged with the Somali for ivory, guns, 

 caps, powder, and lead. 



The Somali with whom he traded came from points 

 as far north as Kismayu. One of their number, Bar- 

 falatta by name, finding the business engaged in by the 

 Sultan of Witu profitable, attracted to himself a number 

 of runaway slaves and renegade Arabs. With these he 

 established himself at a point not far from Pumwani, 

 called Jongeni. Both of these places, Pumwani and 

 Jongeni, were in the neighbourhood of Mkonumbi, 

 where I pitched my first camp. The British East 

 Africa Company, as a check upon these raids, had 

 established upon the site of the old town of Witu a 

 garrison consisting of 150 Indian soldiers, under the 

 command of two ofificers. This force had had several 

 engagements with the raiders established at Pumwani 

 and Jongeni ; but had been unable, owing to their small 

 number and the difficult nature of the country, to drive 

 the raiders from the territory. 



My arrival at Mkonumbi, with a respectable force at 

 my command (160 men), was construed by the rival 

 chiefs (Fumo Omari and Barfalatta) as a demonstra- 

 tion of increased hostility on the part of the Europeans; 

 and, perhaps in consequence, the raids during my stay 

 at Mkonumbi became fewer and upon a smaller scale. 



