94 
THE KILIMA-NJARO EXPEDITION. 
CHAPTER Y. 
ARRIVAL AT MANDARA’S COURT. 
Before describing my first interview with Mandara, 
the chief of Mosi, it may be well to say a few explana¬ 
tory words about his actual position and previous 
career. 
By Sir John Kirk’s advice I directed my steps to 
his kingdom and capital in the first instance, for we 
both imagined that I had only to conciliate this per¬ 
sonage in order to be able to range free and undisturbed 
over the whole of Kilima-njaro. 
It was, however, a great mistake—though one I was 
a long time finding out—because Mandara ruled over 
a very small tract of land, and only up to 6000 feet 
altitude, and being at constant war with his neighbours, 
and his little kingdom in a continual state of blockade, 
his protection as far as it influenced a peaceful residence 
on the upper slopes of the mountain was worse than 
useless. Had it not been that the time spent perforce 
in Mandara’s country was of little use for natural 
history purposes—for I could not forget that I had 
come out principally to study the alpine district near 
the snow-line, and not the rich but more typically 
African fauna and flora at lower levels—I should little 
regret the months I passed in Mosi, for I regard Man¬ 
dara as one of the most remarkable Africans I have 
