NUMBERS ARE STRENGTH. 



267 



sandals, old, dirty, and tattered. He chewed his quid 

 and he expectorated without mercy ; he asked many a 

 silly question, yet he had ever an eye to the main 

 chance. He demanded and received five " cloths with 

 names," which I was again compelled to purchase at an 

 exorbitant price from the Baloch and slaves, one coil of 

 brass wire, four blue cottons, and ten " domestics ; " the 

 total amounted to fiftv shukkahs, here worth at least 

 fifty dollars, and exhausting nearly two-thirds of a 

 porters load. His return present was the leanest of 

 calves; when it was driven into camp with much parade, 

 his son, who had long been looking out for a fit oppor- 

 tunity, put in a claim for three cottons. 



Magomba before our departure exacted from Kidogo 

 an oath that his Wazungu would not smite the land 

 with drought or with fatal disease, declaring that all 

 we had was in his hands. He boasted, and with truth, 

 of his generosity. It was indeed my firm conviction 

 from first to last, that in case of attack or surprise I 

 had not a soul except my companion to stand by me : 

 all those who accompanied us could, and consequently 

 would, have saved their lives ; — we must have perished. 

 We should have been as safe with six as with sixty 

 guns ; but I would by no means apply to these regions 

 Mr. Galton's opinion, " that the last fatal expedition 

 of Mungo Park is full of warning to travellers who 

 propose exploring with a large body of men." For 

 though sixty guns do not suffice to prevent attack in 

 Ugogo, 600 stout fellows armed with the " hot-mouthed 

 weapon " might march through the length and breadth 

 of Central Africa. 



During our four days' detention at Kanyenye, I was 

 compelled to waste string after string of beads i n persuad- 

 ing the people to water the porters and asses. Yet their 



