THE SCENES OF BLACKMAIL. 



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Said bin Salim, the Coast- Arab merchants, and the 

 Jemadar. Two Wazagira, or chief-councillors, did the 

 palaver, which was conducted, for dignity, outside the 

 royal hovel. He declared that the two caravans must com- 

 pound separately, and that in my case he would be satisfied 

 with nothing under six porters' loads. As about one- 

 twelfth of his demand was offered to him, he dismissed 

 them with ignominy, affirming that he held me equal to 

 the Sayyid of Zanzibar, and accordingly that he should 

 demand half the outfit. The third day was spent by the 

 Coast- Arabs in haggling with the courtiers before His 

 Highness, who maintained a solemn silence, certainly the 

 easiest plan ; and the present was paraded, as is custom- 

 ary on such occasions, in separate heaps, each intended 

 for a particular person, but Her Highness, justly offended 

 by the flimsiness of a bit of chintz, seized a huge wooden 

 ladle and hooted and hunted the offenders out of doors. 

 After high words the Arabs returned, and informed me 

 that things were looking desperate. I promised assistance 

 in case of violence being offered to them, —a civility which 

 they acknowledged by sending a shoulder of beef. The 

 fourth day was one of dignified idleness. We received 

 a message that the court was again sitting upon 

 Pombe, and we too well understood that His Highness, 

 with his spouse and cabinet, were drunk as drunk could 

 be. On the morning of the fifth day, a similar delaying 

 process was attempted ; but as the testy Kidogo, who 

 had taken the place of the tame Said, declared that 

 the morrow should see us march in the afternoon, the 

 present was accepted, and the two or three musket shots 

 usual on such occasions sounded the joyful tidings that 

 we were at liberty to proceed. The unconscionable ex- 

 tortioner had received one coil of brass wire, four 



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