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needing my assistance, and insisting on my starting to see them without delay. Feeling annoyed at these constant demands on my time and medicine-chest, I nevertheless complied, in order to keep on good terms with the chief, but this time I resolved to use a coarser and scarcely less effectual remedy for open sores— paraffin-of which I had an ample store. So, with a small tin of this mineral oil, more lint, and more linen bandaging, I again followed the messenger, and this time was taken to a different quarter, where I entered a large, low-pitched, round building, with a peaked The interior being roof-in fact a big beehive hut.

only lighted by the low doorway, it was at first impossible to distinguish anything in the gloom, especially as a curious odorous steam, and the smoke of a wood fire mingled and rendered the obscurity inside denser. At length, however, I could make out that the building was divided into a certain number of stalls, separated in the centre by a broad lane. On one side were milch cows, some four or five, each with a calf, and each in her separate stall; on the other were about the same number of women, one or two with children. They evinced little surprise or amusement at seeing me, and all but the sick one went on with the food-preparing avocations they were already I dressed the woman's ulcer with engaged in. paraffin, left her some oil for a further applicatior, and withdrew, half-stifled with the ammoniacal odours of this stable-harem. Once more back in camp I had many further calls here and there to visit patients and treat the most varied disorders, from a broken arm to insanity and blindness. In all cases it was hoped that I should effect immediate cures, and had I commenced a series of miracles, no surprise would have been

elicited, so great was the implicit faith in a white man's "healing-magic." But now, somewhat nettled at the calm way in which I was ordered about, I intimated that all who wished for medicine or medical advice must come for it in person, and wait my pleasure to be attended to. In no wise rebuffed, the subjects of Mandara thronged the precincts of my tent, and would have overrun everything and sullied all the clean appurtenances of my little habitation, had I not formed a stout barrier of bales and boxes, and set a strong guard to keep order among the rabble. Then one by one I saw the sick, the maimed, the hopelessly diseased, and, in a few hours, had made more saddening acquaintance with the ills that flesh is heir to—even in a pristine, savage state-than had been afforded to me under any previous circumstances of my wandering career. The whole of that evening I patiently inquired into each complaint, and, to the best of my poor ability, administered medical

relief.

CHAPTER VI.

MY FIRST SETTLEMENT ON KILIMA-NJARO.

VERY early in the morning of the succeeding daythe second after our arrival in Moši-I began to prepare for the last stage of my journey, the search for a suitable site on which to establish my principal and central collecting-station. Various considerations must influence me in my selection. Firstly, it must not be too low down on the mountain, so as to be inconveniently far from my collecting-grounds; secondly, it must not be too high up or my men would suffer unduly from cold, and we should induce no natives to bring their food supplies for sale. Again, I did not wish to build too near Mandara's court in case that monarch should honour us with an inconvenient amount of his society, and always have me at his beck and call; on the other hand, if I journeyed too far into the wilderness I lost the protection Mandara was able to accord me and would, consequently, nullify the object of my settlement in Moši, which was to be enabled to pursue my avocations quietly and economically by living with a very few followers under the ægis of a powerful prince.

I, therefore, after long consultation of the imperfect map, decided that a certain prominent spur of the mountain in the north-east of Mandara's country

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(overlooking the bed of a rivulet) would best answer my purpose for a secure and pleasant settlement. After experience showed me that this almost accidental choice would have been a strangely fortunate one, and had I made a permanent residence in Mandara's country, I should have eventually built there. But on my indicating this selection to the chief on my arrival, I could see that it met with his secret disapproval. He really feared that in establishing myself on this distant spot I should be too independent of his caprices. Yet he did not countermand it, but merely nodded and said enigmatically, "We shall see-kešo, kešo" (kešo! fatal word to-morrow'). However, I was determined to show him that I intended to have my own way. Accordingly, I prepared actively for departure on the morrow. I thought it ominous that no guides or message came from Mandara's court, but I, nevertheless, affected not to notice this, and gave the order cheerfully to shoulder loads and march. Only thirty men-the Zanzibarisresponded. The Rabai porters sat sullen and immovable, and raised not a finger to their loads. I asked them if they had understood me. "Perfectly," they said, "but Mandara had given them orders not But," I exclaimed, "I am your master, pay you, and I command you to take up your loads and follow me to the last stage of the journey." "What do we care for your commands ?" they replied. "Why Mandara could kill us all in a moment, and who could resist him? And you-why you daren't even beat us, because you know we should tell the missionaries." This was indeed bitterness for me, especially the feeling that I was impotent to harm these wretches. Unfortunately, they had all received

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the greater part of their wages in advance, and had carefully stored up their dollars before quitting the coast, so that the threat of depriving them of the small remainder of their pay, if they failed to complete the contract, had little effect. Mandara, it appears, had tried to cajole and frighten the Zanzibaris into joining the strike, but these true-hearted Mussulmen had informed him that they had but one master and that the white man, and him only would they obey— an answer for which Mandara ever afterwards bore them a grudge. I therefore in my difficulty turned to them for counsel. Kiongwe, the head-man, whose experience under Stanley had made him a reliable adviser, proposed a daring solution of the quandary, namely, that he should proceed forthwith to Mandara's, present him my salaams, and inform him I was now ready to start, and waiting only for the promised guide. On this errand he went, and found Mandara in the best of humours, and apparently grieved to hear of the mutiny in my camp, though his one eye twinkled as he said so.

A compromise was arrived at. Kiongwe was informed that I was free to go wherever I chose, but that Mandara advised me to select the site which his delegates would show me. As I had a hundred loads and only thirty men willing to carry them, I had better put my goods under his charge, and he would take care of them until they could be removed in instalments to the selected site. I was rueful when Kiongwe returned and communicated the result of his interview, because I felt how utterly I had placed myself in Mandara's power. Moreover, I dreaded lest the proposed "taking charge of my goods" were not a pretext for exacting a huge ransom. However,

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