PROPOSED MARCH UPON KILWA. 



265 



headman's house, which had already been turned into 

 a kind of barrack by these irregulars. They then stared 

 as usual for half-a-dozen consecutive hours, which done 

 they retired to rest. 



After a day's repose, sending for the Kirangozi, and 

 personally offering a liberal reward, I opened to him 

 the subject then nearest my heart, namely, a march 

 upon Kilwa. This proceeding probably irritated the 

 too susceptible Said bin Salim, and caused him, if not 

 actually to interfere, at any rate to withhold all aid 

 towards furthering the project. Twanigana, after a 

 palaver with his people, returned with a reply that 

 he himself was willing, but that his men would not 

 leave the direct track. Their reasons were various. 

 Some had become brothers with the sons of Kamji, and 

 expected employment from their " father." Others 

 declared that it would be necessary to march a few miles 

 back, which was contrary to their custom, and said that 

 they ought to have been warned of the intention before 

 passing the Makutaniro, or junction of the two roads. 

 But none expressed any fear, as has since been asserted, 

 of being sold off into slavery at Kilwa. Such a de- 

 claration would have been ridiculous. Of the many 

 Wanyamwezi caravans that have visited Kilwa none 

 has ever yet been seized and sold ; the coast-people are 

 too well acquainted with their own interests to secure 

 for themselves a permanent bad name. Seeing, how- 

 ever, that energetic measures were necessary to open the 

 road, I allowed them two days for consideration, and 

 warned them that after that time Posho or rations should 

 be withdrawn. 



On the next day I was privately informed by the 

 Mnfumo or parson of the caravan, that his comrades 

 intended to make a feint of desertion, and then to return, 



