ARRIVAL AT MANDARA'S COURT. 
105 
Tlie chief began the interrogatory, 44 What pretty 
boots you have got on ! ” he said. To which I conld 
think of nothing more original to reply than, 44 Oh, do 
you think so ? ” 44 Yes, they are very fine— 4 vizuri 
sana have you got a pair that would fit me ? ” This 
was a question that required rather a diplomatic 
answer. I had but one pair of patent leather shoes, 
and I judged from what I saw of Mandara’s foot that 
they would be quite inadequately sized, so I replied, 
vaguely, 44 1 will look and see.” But the chief’s 
attention had already wandered to other subjects. 
He pressed me with the most varied questions, some¬ 
times too impatient to wait for an answer. 44 What is 
the braid on your coat made of?” 44 Silver.” 44 Is 
silver the same as that white stuff on the top of Kilima¬ 
njaro?” 44 And have you come all this way from 
TJlaya (Europe) to gather the glittering thing that 
makes Kibo shine in the sun ? ” 44 Why is your sultan 
called Queeny ? ” 44 The Arabs tell me Queeny is a 
woman; is that true ? ” 44 Did Queeny send you here ? ” 
44 Ho; the Waalimu (wise men) of England have sent 
me, so that I might see everything there was to be 
seen on Kilima-njaro, and come home and tell them all 
about it.” 44 What did they do that for ? ” 44 Because 
they love knowledge.” Mandara pondered a moment, 
and then he glanced up and said quickly, 44 Look! 
you can write, can’t you? All the Wa-zungu (white 
men) can. Yery well. See everything hereabouts— 
I will show you—and then write it all to the Waalimu 
of Ulaya. Your men and mine shall take the letter 
to the coast, but you shall stop with me, always—eh. ? 
Always. I like you ; and besides, I want a white 
man to teach me how to write, and to show my Ma- 
fundi (artificers) how to make cannon, and instruct 
