CHAP. IX.j 
COUNTRY DISTURBED . 
359 
A mixture of cowardice and brutality, tbe traders’ 
party became exceedingly timid, as a report was current 
that tbe inhabitants of Kayala intended to ally them¬ 
selves to those of Tarrangolle, and to attack the Turks 
in their camp. I accordingly strengthened my position 
by building a tower of palisades, that entirely com¬ 
manded all approaches to my zareeba. 
Latooka was already spoiled by the Turks: it was 
now difficult to procure flour and milk for beads, as 
the traders’ people, since the attack on Kayala, had 
commenced the system of purchasing all supplies with 
either goats, or beef, which having been stolen, was 
their cheapest medium of exchange. Although rich in 
beads and copper, I was actually poor, as I could not 
obtain supplies. Accordingly I allowanced my men 
two pounds of beads monthly, and they went to distant 
villages and purchased their own provisions indepen¬ 
dently of me. 
On the 11th June, at 7.20 a.m., there was a curious 
phenomenon ; the sky was perfectly clear, but we were 
startled by a noise like the sudden explosion of a mine, 
or the roar of heavy cannon, almost immediately 
repeated. It appeared to have originated among the 
mountains, about sixteen miles distant due south of 
my camp. I could only account for this occurrence 
by the supposition that an immense mass of the granite 
