236 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



then spanning the western skies, insisted, as his people 

 invariably do on such conjunctures, upon my companion 

 being visited by the mganga, or medicine-man of the 

 caravan. That reverend personage, after claiming and 

 receiving the usual fee, a fat goat, anointed with its 

 grease two little bits of wood strung on to a tape of 

 tree-fibre, and contented himself with fastening this 

 Mpigi — the negroid's elixir vitae — round my com- 

 panion's waist. The ligature, however, was torn off 

 after a few minutes, as its only effect was to press upon 

 and pain the tenderest part. 



During the forced halt which followed my companion's 

 severe attack, I saw that, in default of physic, change of 

 air was the most fitting restorative. My benumbed legs 

 and feet still compelling me to use a hammock, a second 

 was rigged up for the invalid ; and by good fortune 

 thirteen unloaded porters of a down caravan consented 

 to carry us both for a large sum to Rubuga. The sons 

 of Ramji were imperatively ordered to leave Kazeh 

 under pain of dismissal, which none would incur as they 

 had a valuable investment in slaves : with their aid the 

 complement of porters was easily and speedily filled 

 up. 



Seedy Mubarak Bombay — in the interior the name 

 became Mamba (a crocodile) or Pombe (small beer) — 

 had long before returned to his former attitude, that of 

 a respectful and most ready servant. He had, it is 

 true, sundry uncomfortable peculiarities. A heaven- 

 born " Pagazi," he would load himself on the march 

 with his " T'haka-t'haka," or " chow-chow," although a 

 porter had been especially hired for him. He had no 

 memory : an article once taken by him was always 

 thrown, upon the ground and forgotten : in a single trip 

 he broke my elephant gun, killed my riding-ass, and lost 



