CHAPTER XII. 
PREPARATIONS FOR THE MARCH. 
DI MAVUNGA, finding me in his 
power, began, like a thoroughbred 
African, to raise obstacles. We must 
pass through the lands of two kings, 
the Mfumo ma Vivi (Bibbie of Tuckey) and the 
Mfumu Nkulu or Nkuru (Cooloo). The distance 
was short, but it would occupy five days, meaning 
a week. Before positively promising an escort he 
said it would be necessary to inspect my outfit; 
I at once placed it in the old man’s hands, the 
better to say, “ This is not mine, ask Gidi Ma- 
vunga for it.” 
My patience had been severely tried on first 
arrival at Banza Nokki. From ruler to slave 
every one begged for cloth and rum, till I learned 
to hate the names of these necessaries. Besides 
the five recognized kings of the district, who wore 
black cloth coats, all the petty chiefs of the neigh¬ 
bourhood flocked in, importunate to share the 
