3 1 8 Wanderings in Eastern Africa, 
Between the charred stumps, however, a new green 
crop, brought into existence by the heavy dews of the 
night, was issuing, and it was a most agreeable sight. 
The party halted at a bifurcation of the path to 
discuss which road to take. We attempted one 
which on account of thick wood we were compelled to 
give up. The objection to the other was that it led 
through the plantations of the people, who have super- 
stitious fears regarding the wearing of shoes or 
sandals by any one passing through their fields. 
The Wataita notion is, that, in such a case, these 
understandings" are attended by what the Wasua- 
hili call Ukorofi (witchery). In the end we were 
obliged to take the latter path. Reaching the plan- 
tations, our guns were fired, and some of the people 
came out to meet us, peremptorily demanding black- 
mail Somebody who had preceded us had always 
paid toll to be allowed to pass that way, and it was 
insisted that we must do the same. Eight cubits 
of calico were demanded, but eventually they ac- 
cepted foun Then we were led on the way, not, 
however, through the proper entrance, but for some 
unexplained reason by a side path, and for a short 
distance by a way which had to be made for us through 
a close jungle. At the edge of the plantation all 
were ordered to doff their sandals. My boots were 
suspiciously looked at, but I was allowed to wear them. 
I asked how this was, and in reply was told that I was 
altogether Ukorofi,'' and that taking off my boots 
would not destroy the evil influence of my entire 
person. I was to be endured in the hope that I 
might prove something better than I looked to be. It 
was not long before Tofiki, Abashora, and I got lost. 
