288 
THE KILIMA-NJAPO EXPEDITION . 
marked tlie windings of the River Lumi. Our pro¬ 
gress was repeatedly hindered and occasionally stopped 
by the ever-increasing and turbulent force of savages 
who pressed upon our flanks, clamouring for a division 
of our goods. ££ Ngubo ! Ngubo ! ” was their sole cry, 
and an archaic oue, for ££ JNTgubo 55 is the oldest known 
form of a widespread Bantu word for cloth or covering. 
In Zulu it is ££ Ngubo ” as the Wa-rombo have it, 
but in most other East African tongues it is ££ JNTguo ” 
and ££ Nguwo.” 
I flung them a few yards of red cloth as a present 
to their sultan. This acted like the articles which are 
thrown to pursuing wolves from the inmates of a hunted 
sledge—it served for a moment to delay their oncoming, 
and I had time to form my somewhat scattered men 
into line and press resolutely on towards the plain. 
The natives followed with increased hostility, mis¬ 
taking our resolute retreat for a cowardly flight. As 
a matter of fact I did not much fear them in spite of 
their numbers, as they carried no guns and were but 
armed with ill-made spears, so that in case of hos¬ 
tilities I could doubtless have slaughtered many; but 
my anxiety the whole time I lived on Kilima-njaro was 
to avoid war and bloodshed. Although in a pitched 
battle you may easily gain the advantage, yet the news 
that you have resorted to violent methods to attain 
your end spreads through a district like wildfire, and 
everywhere you are received with deep distrust or open 
enmity. I am of the opinion of Mr. Thomson that it 
is preferable to suffer many indignities sooner than be 
the first to shed blood. I also agree with him that it 
is insanity to travel about Africa unarmed. Never 
anywhere was that saying truer, ££ Si vis pacem para 
helium.” So we held on our way resolutely and 
