ARRIVAL AT ALAND ABA" S COURT . 
109 
numberless questions, and chattered to me as freely as 
though we were old companions. All questions about 
building, settling, choosing a site in his country, he 
deferred to a lesser “ palaver,” to be arranged by his 
attendants. Indeed I noticed, that whenever Man- 
dara wished to drive a hard bargain, and this desire 
never deserted him even in his most gushing outbursts 
of friendliness, he negotiated it through interme¬ 
diaries, and never treated directly with me on matters 
of business, having a royal dislike to saying disagree¬ 
able things. Accordingly, on this occasion, when he 
had exhausted his surprise and delight at the coloured 
pictures, when he had ceased to turn the handle of the 
musical-box, and had rung all the bells till their 
hammers were unhung, and, sure sign of an exhausted 
brain, had begun to yawn, I craved permission to 
withdraw, which was gracefully accorded, and I 
retired to my tent, followed by two Wa-caga leading- 
fat sheep and carrying bananas as the Sultan’s contri¬ 
bution to my dinner. 
Early the next morning I rose and dressed, and was 
some time performing an unusually protracted toilet, 
for I had the rare opportunity of being able to dress 
at my ease without pulling down the tent and hurry¬ 
ing off the men with their loads. On raising the 
canvas flap, and going out into the fresh morning 
sunlight, I was somewhat surprised to see Mandara 
with a circle of soldiers round him inspecting my 
goods, and carrying on an active conversation with 
the Zanzibaris. I saluted him gravely, but he returned 
the greeting, as I thought, somewhat coldly. How¬ 
ever, he came and sat down in my deck-chair, and 
then cast his dangerous gaze around my tent and its 
furniture. Singling out my dressing-bag he begged 
