X 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



467 



and looked at the large pile of carefully packed 

 trading-goods ; all of which were of no further use to 

 me. Setting aside the thought of the destruction of 

 my hopes, I knew that these trading-goods and the 

 stores of food represented an expenditure exceeding 

 ^9000 (U. S. money). In fact, I doubt whether 

 they could have been got together and transported 

 to Daitcho for that sum. 



On January 7 I called the traders, and distributed 

 among them many loads of my goods. It was matter 

 of some amusement to note their reception of the 

 articles. Their thanks were given in a most perfunc- 

 tory way, and they took it for granted that my action 

 was only just and proper. Hassan had been gone 

 fifteen days, and to my mind (by this time suspicious 

 of everything) it seemed probable that he did not in- 

 tend to return, but had decided to cast his lot with 

 the traders, and make use of the goods and food I 

 had left at Sayer to trade on his own account among 

 the Wanderobbo. Two members of the Zanzibari 

 caravan came to me on this day, and said they wished 

 to return to the coast ; and I gladly enlisted them. 



On January 8 I called Bykender, and told him to 

 bring as many of the natives of Daitcho as he could 

 gather together, as I wished to distribute among them 

 several tons of food, which I had stored in my gran- 

 ary. Soon the place in front of the zeriba was black 

 with people, particularly women, who brought with 

 them bags and other receptacles for carrying away 

 the grain. Nearly three tons of beans and flour was 

 given out to them, and they went away, not rejoic- 

 ing or apparently grateful, but more or less disap- 



