Chap. LXII. 
GOVERNOR OF DALLA. 
327 
scanty herbage, while a considerable extent of ground 
was under cultivation, without, however, promising 
a rich harvest, the crops being rather thin and of 
poor quality ; and we had only proceeded a short 
distance, when we observed such enormous quantities 
of the red worm as we had never seen before, not 
even near Kiibo, forming large heaps, from which 
long and unbroken lines were seen moving east- 
ward. 
After a march of two miles, we reached the half- 
decayed and deserted village called Nyanga Segga, 
where the governor of Dalla was encamped. Bat, 
as if he had expected my coming, he and all his people 
had mounted. I had sent El Walati and f Ali to pre- 
sent my compliments to him ; but when I was pur- 
suing the right track, all the horsemen came up to me, 
requesting me to give them my blessing ; and they 
so urgently entreated me at the same time to pay my 
respects personally to their chief, that I could not 
resist their request. But it almost seemed as if 
El Walati had in some way or other compromised 
himself by his ambiguous conduct ; and when I ap- 
proached the emir, who was very simply dressed, the 
former quite forgot the part which he had to play, 
and, casting a wild look at me, requested me to with- 
draw, in such a manner as greatly to increase the 
danger of my situation. Deeming it better not to 
enter into a dispute with this man under such cir- 
cumstances, I retreated as soon as I had com- 
plimented the chief, pursuing my track, but I was 
Y 4 
