84 THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA, 



to the bull-headed slave Mabruki. At first the widows 

 of the late Kabeza, to whom the only cows in the dis- 

 trict belonged, supplied us plentifully with milk ; grad- 

 ually the quantity shrank, whenever an opportunity 

 offered it was " cut off and, at last, we could no 

 longer afford the exorbitant price demanded. My com- 

 panion having refused a cheese to Kannena, the dowager 

 ladies, who owned the cows, when applied to for milk, 

 threw away the vessel, and swore that by boiling what 

 ought to be drunk unboiled, we were manifestly bewitch- 

 ing and killing their cattle. On one occasion, a young 

 person related to Rusimba went to the huts of the 

 Baloch, and, snatching up a fine cloth which she clasped 

 to her bosom, defied them to recover it by force, and 

 departed, declaring that it was a fine for bringing 

 " whites " into the country. At first our heroes spoke 

 of much slaughter likely to arise from such procedure, 

 and with theatrical gesture, made " rapiere au vent;' 1 

 presently second-thoughts suggested how beautiful is 

 peace, and thirdly, they begged so hard, that I was com- 

 pelled to ransom for them the article purloined. I had 

 unwittingly incurred the animosity of Kennena. On 

 the day after his appearance in rich clothing he had 

 entered unannounced with bare head, a spear or two in 

 hand, and a bundle of wild-cats' skins by way of placket ; 

 not being recognised, he was turned out, and the eject- 

 ment mortally offended his dignity. Still other travel- 

 lers fared even worse than we did. Said bin Majid, 

 who afterwards arrived at Ujiji to trade for ivory and 

 slaves, had two followers wounded by the Wajiji, one 

 openly speared in the bazaar, and the other at night by 

 a thief who was detected digging through the wall 

 of the store-hut. 



After trade was disposed of, ensued a general Bakh- 



