240 Wanderings in Eastern Africa, 
there were those about who had begun to see how 
matters stood. By-and-by everything oozed out. 
There was great excitement. Thunder-clouds gathered 
upon every countenance ; lightnings flashed from 
savage eyes ; angry words were uttered ; a tremendous 
storm was brewing ; break upon whom it might. It 
was by this time growing dark ; a fight was anything 
but desirable. In this state of things we announced 
our intention of packing up our goods and returning 
to Ngau. We were preparing to depart, when a sud- 
den change took place in the feelings of the angry 
company, and Aba Rufat came, still much excited, to 
say that what we had brought would be accepted, 
and we could proceed to Ganda. We were not pre- 
pared for so sudden a change, so I put my hand upon 
the goods while we consulted about what we had 
better do, ultimately agreeing to let them take the 
hings, to return fo r the night to Ngau, and to meet the 
Gallas again next morning. We then walked round, 
and stood among the company, while the articles were 
being distributed. There were present between fifty 
and sixty men, and all were seated, tailor-fashion, 
upon the ground. Mara Barowat was first turbaned, 
and then his next in command. A score or more of 
others were honoured in the same manner, though 
with far less costly cloths. Malau and Aba Rufat 
made the distribution, the former evidently quite in 
his glory ; it seemed to be quite a pleasure to him to 
be giving away that which was not his own, for a 
share of the honour would of course cling to the man 
taking so prominent a part. We stayed until it grew 
almost dark and we were quite tired, then calling our 
party together we returned to Ngau. 
