XIII 
A SOJOURN AT RES HI AT AND KERE 
3 
brought me no present, not even food. In the afternoon I 
sent for him again, and, having got hold of Hamisi to interpret, 
had a great “ shauri,” he being now attended by some of his 
principal retainers. 
It now transpired that there were two grievances, which, 
trifling as the circumstances may appear, were troubling the 
minds of Labugo and his people. First, why had I camped 
here, in the bush, instead of alongside of his town ? I pointed 
out to him that, as a European, I had my own customs and 
ideas, which differed from those of Swahili traders, and tried to 
explain how miserable I should have been, exposed to the 
fierce sun and the clouds of dust raised by the frequently 
passing cattle, with crowds of gaping natives continually round 
my tent, not to mention the din they made night and morning; 
at the same time, I declared that this was equally his kraal 
where we were. The second source of offence was that we 
had fired no guns on arriving. As to this, I asked him whether 
there had been any attempt at concealment about our arrival ; 
any sneaking in at night, or round some back way ? Had we 
not rather come at mid-day, right past his town ? And did 
I not send envoys specially to announce my advent ? As to 
letting off guns, I said that I was not in the habit of wasting 
cartridges for nothing, after the manner of Swahilis ; I kept 
mine for elephants or enemies ; and by way of a final clincher, 
which I knew would tell (and I could see by their looks, did), 
I promised him that, should any hostile tribe attack him while 
I was here, he should hear my guns fast enough. I then took 
him into my tent and gave him a present of assorted treasures, 
handing him in addition some beads for his followers. His 
own he left in my charge till the evening, being afraid of having' 
the whole begged from him by his loving subjects, should they 
catch sight of it. Labugo promised food trade for the morrow, 
and said he would come himself to arrange about the price. 
He also said there were elephants in the neighbourhood, and 
that I should have guides to show me their haunts whenever I 
