20 
EAST AFRICA AND ITS BIG GAME. 
the exact thing we wished to avoid. I therefore told 
Mr. Horneche that all we required from him was a 
letter to any of his countrymen we might meet, stating 
that he knew we were visiting the territory for the sole 
purpose of sport and in no sense represented emigrants 
or politicians. This he promised to give me, and as he 
was clearly overwhelmed with business I at once took 
my leave. I need not have troubled him at all, as 
during our whole inland journey we never fell in with 
a single German. 
Shortly before our arrival General Mathews, acting 
in the interests of the Sultan, had cleverly forestalled 
an attempt on the part of the Germans to buy up the 
Caga country, which lies at the S.E. foot of Kilima¬ 
njaro. Having got wind of their intention he started 
off with two hundred native soldiers, and by threats 
and promises prevailed upon the different tribes to 
fly the Sultan’s red flag. The General completed his 
journey in twelve days, and accomplished his mission 
before the arrival of the Germans, who reached the 
same district in thirty-six days, only to find that the 
whole country they intended to annex had already 
hoisted the Sultan’s colours and acknowledged his 
suzerainty. The story goes, that on their return they 
declared they had first bought up all the territory they 
wanted and that subsequently the Sultan had forced the 
inhabitants to hoist his flag, and on this representation, 
conveyed through the German Consul Roalf, Prince 
Bismarck thundered forth the most terrific threats, to 
the effect that he would despatch a fleet to Zanzibar 
