244 
THE KILIMA NJARO EXPEDITION. 
where we might discuss our differences on neutral 
ground. The hope was in me that now being duly 
supported by a well-equipped band of followers, and 
residing on my own land, I might act as the peaceful 
arbiter of Kilima-njaro, might show its foolish people 
that their quarrels were only to the advantage of the 
Arab slave-traders, and induce them to band together 
in a friendly confederation to resist the common enemy. 
My proposal for a conference was well received. Repre¬ 
sentatives from Kiboso, Mamba, Mwika, Kirua, Useri, 
came to Taveita. I had also sent a letter to Mandara, 
explaining my object and inviting him to co-operate, 
but no immediate answer was given, nor did he send 
any delegate to attend our conference. The naked 
ambassadors of the different states I have mentioned 
w r ere all of one opinion. “Make friends with Maranu, 
and you are friends with all of us. As to forming a 
league with Mandara against the coast people, perhaps 
we will see—-later; but it is Mandara who must first 
make amends; it is he who has for years past robbed, 
enslaved, and harried us. Did Maranu ever fight with 
Kiboso, or Useri with Mamba and Mwika ? Never ! 
There would be peace on the mountain were it not for 
Mandara. He began the war—let him make proposals 
of peace. Where is his delegate to-day P ” 
I confess that having done my utmost I was not 
going to waste any more time in trying to restore 
peace in troubled Gaga. Politics I only meddled with 
inasmuch as they were contingent on the prosecution 
of my scientific mission. As Mandara abstained from 
following my pacific suggestions, all that remained to 
me was to make friends as speedily as possible with 
Maranu—not for the pleasure of its chief’s acquain¬ 
tance, or for interest in its welfare, but in order to 
