178 ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER ch. 
good business was that he, Abdullah, had only a 
small stock of goods and none at all of what 
Malinganiro most desired—kegs of gunpowder. 
However, determined to overcome all obstacles, he 
promptly told Malinganiro that the Portuguese had 
plenty of this commodity at Matengula, but gave it 
out only to reliable chiefs on their personal atten¬ 
dance. As for goods, well, he, Abdullah, could 
procure plenty from English territory, but would not 
dare to bring so large a quantity so great a distance, 
and hinted that Malinganiro, himself, might not be 
above stealing them when they did arrive. To 
overcome the difficulty, therefore, Malinganiro, so 
suggested the wily Abdullah, should bring his ivory 
down to Matengula in person, and there receive the 
goods and gunpowder in exchange. 
It must have taken - considerable persuasion to 
induce Malinganiro to fall in with this plan, but he 
eventually did so, and arrived at Matengula in 1901, 
bringing with him about sixty loads of ivory. The 
Portuguese received him in good style, and, for a 
time, all went well—in fact, until bargaining for the 
ivory commenced. Then Malinganiro discovered, 
to his surprise, that no gunpowder was forthcoming, 
and as the price offered for his ivory was ridicu¬ 
lously low, announced his intention of taking his 
tusks into English territory and disposing of them 
there. Thereupon, the Portuguese politely informed 
