1 64 Wanderings in Eastern Africa. 
purpose. We hoped that Mara Barowat might come 
down himself, and that, as first chiefs are not allowed 
to leave the country, Yaya Wariot would send in his 
place his vice. Aba Laga Jarot. We also sent for ^ 
Hirebaya Didat and Dado Guio Shelot, (whose ac- 
quaintance we had previously made), both these men 
being what are called " toibs " (chief councillors), and 
very influential men among their people. 
Our patience was greatly tried by the delay occa- 
sioned by these prehminaries, but we made the best 
of our circumstances. The time was spent between 
Malinde and Mambrui. We were not lonely, for 
wherever we went we were followed by scores of 
people — " Waunguana and Watumoa" (free men and 
slaves) ; and when in our quarters we were daily 
visited by hundreds of all classes. We were con- 
sidered great curiosities, and most of the people came 
to see us as such. We were something nezv to them. 
They crowded about us in such numbers that in our 
small rooms we had scarcely space in which to turn 
ourselves. Ventilation, too, being ignored, the heat 
sometimes became unendurable. The people plied 
us with questions from morning till night — questions 
on every imaginable subject — except religiojt. They 
begged to see everything we had, and asked how every- 
thing was made. They enquired about steam-ships, 
guns, railways, telegraphs, and all the other wonders 
of western civilization. Their constant presence, their 
incessant questioning, their confused, noisy, and ever- 
lasting chatter, became a great nuisance ; but we 
bore it for the sake of gleaning from them what 
information they had to impart to us, and for the 
opportunities now and then presenting themselves to 
