CHAP. XI 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



483 



ance. The Soudanese told their story about the 

 chains ; moreover, they said that their time was up. 



Upon Hamidi's arrival at Mitio's village, he at once 

 cut up the loads George had left there for me, and 

 divided them among his men. Abdee Achmet and 

 Gwaharam remonstrated with him, but Hamidi insisted 

 upon taking them ; whereupon Gwaharam said : " I 

 will bear witness to your conduct at the coast." Then 

 the men cut up all the ox-hides I had left for donkey 

 saddles. When Abdee Achmet remonstrated, some of 

 the men threatened to shoot him. He said the men 

 seemed to throw aside all restraint, and to be gov- 

 erned by no particular impulse. Some were for going 

 down the Tana to join the Arab, Suliman Kemenya, 

 and, becoming his followers, to wage war against the 

 English. Others, already timid at the behaviour of 

 their companions, and doubtful whether they should 

 receive any pay at the coast, wished to return to me 

 at Daitcho ; but the counsels of Hamidi and his ring- 

 leaders prevailed, and the whole party, after a stop of 

 one day at Mitio's village, marched for Mombasa. 

 Hamidi said that the reason they had left me was 

 that their time was up, and that he was convinced 

 he should get his pay either from General Matthews 

 or the Sultan of Zanzibar. 



At Mitio's village we remained one day purchasing 

 food. All this portion of Ukambani is in a capital 

 state of cultivation, two kinds of millet being staples ; 

 but there are also many plantations of Indian corn 

 and pumpkins. Before we set out from this place 

 two or thi'ee men came to me and offered their ser- 

 vices as guides ; which offer we foolishly accepted. 



