VI 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



263 



expensive sorts of beads, brass chains, and a number 

 of agates, which we heard were much prized in the 

 north. These ten loads were sufficient to buy camels 

 and donkeys, and we hoped the quality of the goods 

 would please the most fastidious natives. We ex- 

 pected by the introduction of such articles as flannel 

 shawls and blankets to inspire these people with a 

 desire for trade with Europeans ; for we knew that no 

 Arabs or Zanzibari would take such expensive goods. 



Before the departure of the Beloochi, with their 

 caravan, they paid us a visit, and after the usual beg- 

 ging, by which they succeeded in getting a good 

 present, they told us something about the country 

 to the north. They themselves had never seen the 

 Rendile, but had met a man who, some years before, 

 while trading with the Wanderobbo, had fallen in with 

 a large party of these people. He found it impossible 

 to trade with them, and was forced to decamp during 

 the night lest he should be attacked. The Beloochi 

 assured us that a large force would be required for 

 a trip to the Rendile country, as all the rumours they 

 had heard tended to show that the character of the 

 Rendile was most overbearing and ferocious. 



We had decided to take with us sixty-five men, the 

 pick of our caravan, and a large quantity of ammuni- 

 tion. We judged this number of men to be sufficient 

 for defence, at least, and we placed great confidence in 

 the quality of our goods to induce the Rendile to 

 trade with us. 



On the third day Hamidi with six men was de- 

 spatched to the coast, accompanying the Swahili cara- 

 van of thirty men. He was told, again and again, that 



