402 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



were delayed there, however, three long days, by the 

 necessity of collecting a two months' supply of rice, 

 which is rarely to be obtained further west. 



The non-appearance of the sons of Ramji rendered 

 it necessary to take a strong step. I could ill afford the 

 loss of twelve guns, but Kidogo and his men had be- 

 come insufferable : moreover, they had openly boasted 

 that they intended to prevent my embarking upon the 

 "Sea of Ujiji." Despite therefore the persuasions of 

 the Jemadar and Said bin Salim, who looked as if 

 they had heard their death-warrants, I summoned the 

 slaves, who first condescended to appear on the 13th 

 January — three days after my departure, — informed 

 them that the six months for which they were en- 

 gaged and paid had expired, and that they had better 

 return and transact their proprietor's business at Kazeh. 

 They changed, it is true, their tone and manner, pathe- 

 tically pleaded, as an excuse for their ill conduct, that 

 they were slaves, and promised in future to be the most 

 obedient of servants. But they had deceived me too 

 often, and I feared that, if led forwards, they might 

 compromise the success of the exploration. They were 

 therefore formally dismissed, with a supply of cloth and 

 beads sufficient to reach Kazeh, a letter to their master, 

 and another paper to Snay bin Amir, authorising him 

 to frank them to their homes. Kidogo departed, de- 

 claring that he would carry off perforce, if necessary, 

 the four donkey-drivers who had been engaged and 

 paid for the journey to the "Sea of Ujiji" and back : 

 as two of these men, Nasibu and Hassani, openly threa- 

 tened to desert, they were at once put in irons and 

 entrusted to the Baloch. They took oaths on the 

 Koran, and, by strong swearing, persuaded Said bin 

 Salim and their guard to obtain my permission for 



