FOUNDING THE PROTECTORATE 
«5 
shouts of derisive laughter from the natives. After this I lost my temper, and 
so severely rated Mlauri in Swahili that whether he understood the drift of 
my words or not, he was convinced I was extremely angry, and being—like 
most of these negro chiefs—a coward as well as a bully, he became quite 
apologetic. When fresh and more secure seats had been brought for us 1 
explained to him—through Mr. Hetherwick—firstly, that these attempts to 
obstruct the navigation of the Shire would get him into trouble with Her 
Majesty’s Government, and, secondly, that he had better not attempt to fight 
the Portuguese if they forced their way through his country, but should leave 
this matter to be decided between the two Governments. Mlauri replied, 
discursively, giving as his reason for annoying the steamers that he was not 
allowed to seize Chipatula’s two sons, and that the English would not recognise 
him as paramount chief of the Makololo. Also that he felt convinced that 
we were in league with the Portuguese, and that all white men were equally 
bad. He would, therefore, fight Major Serpa Pinto, unless the latter broke 
up his camp and retired to the Zambezi. 
I reiterated my advice ,to him, not to pursue such a course, and then 
returned to the steamer, which was allowed to leave without further opposition 
on the part of the natives. We soon reached Katunga’s, which in some sense 
is the port of Blantyre, that place being about twenty-five miles distant over 
the hills. At Katunga I was met by Mr. John Buchanan, the Acting Consul ; 
by the Rev. D. C. Scott, of the Church of Scotland Mission ; Mr. John Moir, 
the Manager of the Lakes Company; and by a trader whom I will call Mr. S., 
who was a British subject of German 
origin. I explained to these gentle¬ 
men the end that I had in view, 
namely, to secure treaties of friendship 
with the Makololo and Yao chiefs, but 
not to declare a British Protectorate 
if possible, unless the Portuguese 
forced my hand, for I considered it 
better to leave the ultimate decision as 
to a Protectorate with Her Majesty’s 
Government, who would probably wait 
till they had first negotiated a settle¬ 
ment of boundaries with the Portu¬ 
guese. Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Moir 
were delighted at the idea of the 
treaties of friendship, but a violent 
opposition was declared thereto by 
Mr. S., the trader, an opposition which, 
at the time, I was totally unable to 
understand, but which was made clear 
to me afterwards by the discovery 
that Mr. S. had, himself, attempted to conclude treaties with the native 
chiefs, by which they were to yield to him their sovereign rights. He had 
not, up to that time, succeeded in inducing them to do so, but he was 
counting much on exploiting the ill-humour of Mlauri. It is not very clear 
what were the intentions of Mr. S.—whether to start a Chartered Company 
of his own, or, having acquired a sovereignty over the Shire Highlands, to 
make terms for himself with either England or Germany, England being the 
MR. JOHN BUCHANAN 
