204 THE LATOOKAS SEIZE A GUN, [chap, yiih 
with an understanding that they were to supply 
me with everything, and that they would put a stop 
to the intended fight. In the evening a goat was 
brought, and a number of men appeared with grass 
and wood for sale for hut-building.” 
The following day, some of my people went to a 
neighbouring village to purchase com, but the natives 
insulted them refusing to sell saying that “ we should 
die of hunger, as no one should either give or sell us 
anything.” This conduct must induce hostilities, as the 
Turks are too powerful to be insulted. I am rather 
anxious lest some expedition may entail the departure 
of the entire Turkish party, when the Latookas may 
seize the opportunity of attacking my innocents. The 
latter are now so thoroughly broken to my severe laws, 
“ thou shalt not take slaves; neither cattle; nor fire a 
shot unless in self-defence,” that they are resigned to 
the ignoble lot of minding the donkeys, and guarding 
the camp. 
Latooka was in a very disturbed state, and the 
excitement of the people was increasing daily. Two 
of my men went into the town to buy grass, and, 
without any provocation, they were surrounded by the 
natives, and the gun of one man was wrested from 
him; the other, after a tussle, in which he lost his 
ramrod, beat a hasty retreat. A number of the soldiers 
immediately collected, and I sent to the chief to de¬ 
mand the restoration of the gun, which was returned 
that evening. I could literally procure nothing with¬ 
out the greatest annoyance and trouble. 
My men, by their mutiny and desertion at Gondo- 
koro, had reduced a well-armed expedition to a mere 
remnant, dependent upon the company of a band of 
robbers for the means of advancing through the 
country. Instead of travelling as I had arranged, at 
the head of forty-five well-armed men, I had a miserable 
fifteen cowardly curs, who were employed in driving 
the baggage animals; thus they would be helpless in 
the event of an attack upon the road. I accordingly 
