122 
EAST AFRICA AND ITS BIG GAME. 
not strike loud enough ; but from the twinkle in his eye 
I concluded he was fairly well pleased, though of course 
not satisfied, such a condition of mind being abnormal 
with him. He was in excellent humour, and we had a 
long conversation, during which I was much impressed 
by the shrewdness of some of his questions and re¬ 
marks, which showed a great deal more knowledge 
than popular report credited him with. This perhaps is 
to be accounted for, to a certain extent, by his having 
come into frequent contact with the Swahilis during 
their negotiations in ivory and slaves, which involve a 
fair amount of profitable business. We sounded him 
about Mr. Thomson and Mr. H. H. Johnston. The 
former, he said, he liked very much, and charged us 
with a message to him to that effect; but against 
the latter he exhibited an exceptional animus, and was 
anything but flattering in his remarks. He admitted 
a great respect for Sir John Kirk, but evidently did not 
think much of the reigning Sultan. 
I tried to persuade him to let me take his photograph 
by telling him that every one had his likeness taken in 
England ; this made him immediately ask “ if the Queen 
had ever been photographed.” I said, “Yes; for her 
subjects were all proud of her, and insisted upon having 
her portrait; ” but such was his dread of possible magic 
that I could only get him to promise “he would think 
about it.” When we rose to take leave he called 
Martin back and asked him “ how it was, having come 
with a recommendation from the English Consul, we 
had only given him such a little present?” to which 
