CHAPTER XIV. 
THROUGH THE WILDERNESS. 
ON the morning of the i8th July we faced the un- 
inhabited wilderness lying between Unika and 
Taita. Before leaving our quarters, however, we had 
to settle with Abe Mlongo, but we found him a very 
reasonable man. He graciously accepted three cloths 
(worth about a dollar and a half), one for each of his 
three wives, in return for his hospitality, and appeared 
satisfied. I mention this because to satisfy an African 
with anything like just and equitable payment is an 
achievement very complimentary to one's abilities, and 
to have done so in this instance augured well for the 
future. We left the village at 8 p.m., but Abe Mlongo 
would not bid us farewell till he had seen us some 
distance on the road. Our way led through planta- 
tions, and ran in a direction considerably to the north 
of west. This was not our proper course, but we 
were obliged to follow what path there was, there 
being no direct road to Kisigau. At the termination 
of the "mashamba" (plantations) we came to a dead 
halt before a dense wood, the way through which 
was blocked up to prevent the ready ingress of the 
Wataita. We were compelled to turn aside towards 
