84 
In the Heart of Africa 
deprived of his well-filled fombe jug. He had then refreshed his 
inner man so generously, that he afterwards just staggered to and 
fro in a drivelling condition in front of the caravan, to the great 
joy of our carriers. 
'‘The Wahutu misunderstood our friendly intentions, how¬ 
ever, and began to yell and bellow war cries, which resounded 
from village to village, and after a very short interval we could 
see the natives streaming in great bodies towards us from the 
valleys and the hill slopes, armed with spears and bows and 
arrows. 
“ By daylight we could easily have held them in check with 
our half-dozen rifles, but we should have found it impossible to 
defend ourselves against a crushing night attack. 
“ The warriors assembled on the summit opposite our quarters. 
We could observe the village elders holding council together. 
Detachments had already been sent off down the slopes in the 
direction of our camp. I decided then, in order to prevent any 
bloodshed, to approach them, attended only by my interpreter, 
in order that I might treat with them. 
“ Having proceeded half-way—I had ordered the Askari back 
to the camp in spite of their desire to accompany me—I com¬ 
manded my interpreter to call out to the natives assembled on 
the hill that I entertained none other than friendly intentions. 
They might know this by my being perfectly unarmed. I chal¬ 
lenged them to bring their elders along to confer with me. 
“ For a considerable time they made no sign. It was a highly 
critical situation, especially as the people had crept round me on 
the declivities, and were covering me with their bows. My only 
comfort lay in the knowledge that the arrows were not poisoned. 
“At last one of the village chiefs advanced towards me, un¬ 
armed, like myself. I advanced a few paces to meet him, and 
greeted him with a firm shake of the hand. This sealed peaceful 
relations, and in an hour’s time we had received our needed stores 
and also a guide in a fit condition for service.” 
After Schubotz and Mildbraed had also returned from their 
explorations in Rugege, travelling together with Grawert from 
