KONDUCHI. 



3:11 



of the season; and, to complete the confusion, 

 the coast suddenly became subject to the action 

 of ' TEmio-ration libre.' 



Despite the untoward situation, I still re- 

 solved to visit Southern Zanzibar, and to explore, 

 if fortune would favour us, the Xyassa, or Kilwa 

 Lake. The first step was to dismiss from Kon- 

 duchi the Baloch guard and the ' Sons of Ramji: ' 

 the monocular Jemadar shed crocodile-tears as 

 he and his mob departed, begging gunpowder; 

 and my heart felt lighter than it had during many 

 a day. By a casual boat, I wrote to Zanzibar for 

 drugs and medical comforts, necessaries and sup- 

 plies, and lastly for a vessel engaged at the Con- 

 sulate to sail down along shore. 



During the six days of delay at Konduchi we 

 occupied a neat hut under the care of the Di- 

 vran, ' Mtu Mku Wambele ' and the good Ban- 

 yan Premji. We strengthened ourselves by high 

 living, by sea-baths, and by shower-baths in the 

 hea^'y rain ; and we had another hard tussle with 

 the hippopotamus. The nights were remarkably 

 fresh and comfortable; the day-sky was milky 

 white, and a glance at the cool celadon colour 

 of the islet-studded sea was itself a refrigerant. 

 We found nothing remarkable in the village, 

 another Sa'adani : its site is the usual glaring 



