Chaga. 
387 
give ; if he accept them I shall be pleased ; but let 
him speak his mind without reserve/' The Wasuahili 
sat on thorns when I was making these remarks, while 
the chief looked extremely sullen and sulky, like a 
spoiled boy, whose father might have brought home 
for him a penny whistle instead of an expected life- 
sized rocking-horse. After a long pause the chief 
made his speech. He said, " The Mzungu's present 
is before me. It is a mere nothing, scarcely worth 
accepting or rejecting. There was nothing that was 
of any use to him, nothing whatever. However, he 
did not care so much about himself, but his wasoro 
(soldiers) would be disappointed, and would give him 
great trouble, as they were expecting great things 
from the Mzungu. But," he concluded, I will bear 
this, and do the best I can." 
After a few more words from myself a very awkward 
silence succeeded. At length the chief turned over 
the goods once more, and ended by returning the 
very things I had procured upon the recommendation 
of the guide for the special purpose of pleasing him. 
Could I not give him something better than those 
things } 
In anything but a pleasant mood I returned to 
camp, and was shortly followed by the Wasuahili. 
They pretended to be greatly concerned for my 
welfare, but insisted that the only way of procuring 
the friendship of savages was to give largely. But I 
knew their motive was a selfish one, for the more I 
gave the better it would be for them. They would 
represent to Mandara that I gave to him in conse- 
quence of their pleadings, and would expect him to 
reward them for it. However, I sent the chief a few 
