THE CHIEF mRINGAWAKA. 



259 



stead. His long residence among the Arabs has so far 

 civilised him that he furnishes his several homes com- 

 fortably enough ; he receives his tributary-visitors with 

 ceremony, affects amenity of manner, clothes his short, 

 stout, and sooty person in rainbow-coloured raiment, 

 carries a Persian blade, and is a cunning diplomatist in 

 the art of choosing cloth. 



On the day of arrival I was visited by Msimbiri, the 

 heir-apparent — kingly dignity prevented Kiringawana 

 wading the Yovu, — who gave some information about 

 the Rwaha river, and promised milk. The 20th of 

 December was expended in the palaver about " dash." 

 After abundant chaffering, the chief accepted from the 

 Expedition, though passing through his acres on the 

 return-march, when presents are poor, three expensive 

 coloured cloths, and eight shukkah of domestics and 

 Kaniki ; wondering the while that the wealthy Muzungu 

 had neglected to reserve for him something more 

 worthy of his acceptance. He returned a fat bullock, 

 which was instantly shot and devoured. In their indo- 

 lence the caravan-men again began to quarrel ; and 

 Wulaydi, a son of Ramji, speared a porter, an offence for 

 which he was ordered, if he failed to give satisfaction for 

 the assault, to be turned out of camp. A march was 

 anticipated on the next day, when suddenly, as the moon 

 rose over the walls of the basin, a fine bonfire on the 

 neighbouring hill and a terrible outcry announced an 

 accident in the village occupied by the sons of Ramji. 

 Muinyi Buyuni had left in charge of the hearth the 

 object of his affections, a fine strapping slave-girl, whom 

 for certain reasons he expected to sell for a premium at 

 Zanzibar, and she had made it over to some friend, who 

 probably had fallen asleep. The hut was soon in flames, 

 — in these lands fires are never extinguished, — and the 



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