134 
THE KILIMANJARO EXPEDITION. 
gifts for tlieir chief. 44 Oh, is that all?” said Man¬ 
dara, who had of course instigated the whole affair, 
and had sent these men to sound me gently, and see 
if I was of a generous and yielding temperament. 
44 These men don’t know what they are saying; they 
should converse with the white man’s servants, not 
with him. But,” he said, 44 we are wasting our 
time over little words -—maneno madogo. Between the 
white man and Mandara only great affairs should be 
treated of, or else general and light conversation (zum- 
gumzo). I am Sultan here, am I not ? (An eager and 
hurried assent on every one’s part.) 44 And this is the 
Baloza’s child. Let him settle here in peace, and not 
concern himself with the conversation of slaves.” 
Here he affected to scowl at the Wa-swahili, who bore 
all this tirade very stolidly, as if a pre-arranged 
comedy was being carried out. However, I was not 
to be outdone in amiability, and so I heartily shook 
Mandara’s great paw, and drank sour tembo (which I 
detested) with an affected enjoyment quite touching 
in its hypocrisy». Then a bright idea crossed my mind 
and I said—seeing that Mandara expected a reply 
to his oration— 44 Mandara, I have got a little tale 
(haditlii) to tell you.” 44 1 am listening,” answered 
the chief. 44 Once, do you know, in Ulaya, there was 
a man who had a hen (none of the Wa-caga have heard 
of geese) which laid him every morning a golden egg. 
And the man was very pleased at first, but after awhile 
he got impatient, and he said, 4 Instead of waiting 
for many clays till I get a good sum from this hen’s 
eggs, let me cut her open now, and get out all the 
gold at once.’ And he did so, and found nothing 
inside. How, wasn’t that a foolish man, Mandara ? ” 
44 Ye-es,” replied the chief thoughtfully, 44 perhaps he 
