quently it behoved me to act discreetly so that I might carry away all my property from Kitimbiriu without provoking any inimical action on his part. Probably he would not actively intervene to prevent my departure, or to rob me of my goods; but he had only to convey a hint to the Masai in the plains below, and my caravan would have little chance of ever reaching Taveita intact. To Taveita, as a neutral ground, I determined to go before again attempting the ascent of Kilima-njaro from another point in Caga. Accordingly I had directed that the porters should leave their new loads there before proceeding to Moši, so that they might come nearly empty-handed, and be ready to transport my goods from Kitimbiriu.

well.

Abdallah had carried out my secret orders very Kiongwe stayed behind at Taveita with the sick and halting, and watched over the new supplies which were there stowed away, while Abdallah and Kadu came on to me with thirty porters, and carried nothing but the bag of letters and some selected presents for Mandara.

The morning after the arrival of my reinforcements I went to Mandara's court to announce ceremoniously the safe coming of my long-looked-for men, and to read to him some letters I had received from Sir John Kirk. Dressed in my best clothes, and accompanied by several followers gaily decked, and bearing presents -for I had fortunately received some gaudy uniforms and other gifts for Mandara from Zanzibar-I made my way to his little square of beehive huts, wherein he passes the hours of daylight. As I crossed the village-green the groups of soldiers there stationed preserved a sullen demeanour, evidently reflected from the present disposition of their chief. But I was not

abashed, and passed blithely on into the very midst of The chief was seated in gloomy

Mandara's circle. silence, surrounded by his usual Swahili courtiers. When I saluted him cheerily he turned away his head and scowled. His parasites did the same, in a somewhat exaggerated fashion. But I was determined to force my good-humour on him. Laying a brilliant scarlet gold-braided vestment on his lap, I shook his unwilling hand, and said, "Khabari njema! (Good news!). Khabari njema, Mandara. Khabari za Baloza, sikiliza (News of the Consul, listen)." Mandara grunted and turned his head half round. Then I seated myself on one of the low stools near him and began to rather freely interpret a letter I drew from my pocket. In this supposed communication from Sir John Kirk I affected to find stringent orders to leave Mandara's country, and return to the coast without delay. "I don't believe a word of it," said the Prince of Moši when I had finished, "not one word! If the Baloza wants you to return, why does he send your men back loaded with goods when, if what you say is true, you don't need them? No, you want to quit me and go to live with some other chief on the mountain, and that is why you have left your goods behind at Taveita, and your porters come here empty-handed." I protested, however, that his suspicions were unjust, and vowed that although now obliged to leave him, I would some day return; but for a little while Mandara was obdurate. He even muttered threats about impeding my departure, although after uttering them he looked ashamed and contradicted himself. At length when I had half forcibly thrown the scarlet coat round his shoulders and laid out the other sents in tempting array his set features relaxed into

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regretful smile. Well, child of the Baloza!" he said, with a sigh, "if you must go, you must, and I cannot prevent you. But you will promise to return, will you not? And then, see what we will do together "--and he warmed to the theme as he talked;

"We will make a big shamba (plantation) and grow all the vegetables of Europe; we will trade for ivory with the Masai; we will get rich together, eh?" Four months of Mandara's society had taught me how illusory all his offers of partnership were. However, I soothed him with assurances that sooner or later I would reappear in Moši and our relations should be renewed in a satisfactory manner. "And you won't forget to bring me an iron bedstead and an iron chair, like yours, and a European dog, will you?" I assented to all these requests, and ultimately our meeting broke up with much mutual friendliness.

The next morning I bought some sheep and goats of Mandara, and bade him an affectionate farewell. Then, having made all due preparations, and taken a heartbreaking leave of my thriving plantations, where the beds of potatoes and trailing cucumbers looked so prosperous, I gazed for the last time at the country of Moši, where I had made my home during four months, and then turned my back on Mandara and his kingdom, and set my face once more towards Taveita.

for

CHAPTER XII.

A MOVE TO MARANU.1

THE people of Taveita were glad to welcome me once more to their midst, and after the first few days, spent in rapidly building houses to store my goods, and huts my followers-from which efforts a small town ultimately arose-I prepared to smooth the way by negotiations for a peaceful ascent of Kilima-njaro. The chief of Maranu, a largish state (a little bigger than Middlesex) on the south-eastern flank of the great mountain, had latterly sent emissaries to Taveita, to question the people of the forest sanctuary as to my real character and disposition. News of my disputes with Mandara had reached him, and he thought, perhaps, he might oust that chief in my good graces, and get me all to himself with my (supposed) illimitable

wealth, and my wonderful powers of sorcery. I met his advances enthusiastically-perhaps too enthusiastically, because it at first roused suspicion as to my real motives in entering Maranu-and sent to say, by Taveitan intermediaries, that I should be very happy to make peace. I invited, moreover, all the different chieftains of Kilima-njaro to send delegates to Taveita,

As this word often recurs it may be well to note that in accordance with the system of spelling employed it would be pronounced "Marang'u."

where we might discuss our differences on neutral ground. The hope was in me that now being duly supported by a well-equipped band of followers, and residing on my own land, I might act as the peaceful arbiter of Kilima-njaro, might show its foolish people that their quarrels were only to the advantage of the Arab slave-traders, and induce them to band together in a friendly confederation to resist the common enemy. My proposal for a conference was well received. Representatives from Kibôšo, Mamba, Mwika, Kirua, Useri, came to Taveita. I had also sent a letter to Mandara, explaining my object and inviting him to co-operate, but no immediate answer was given, nor did he send any delegate to attend our conference. The naked ambassadors of the different states I have mentioned were all of one opinion. "Make friends with Maranu, and you are friends with all of us. As to forming a league with Mandara against the coast people, perhaps we will see-later; but it is Mandara who must first make amends; it is he who has for years past robbed, enslaved, and harried us. Did Marañu ever fight with Kibôšo, or Useri with Mamba and Mwika? Never! There would be peace on the mountain were it not for Mandara. He began the war-let him make proposals of peace. Where is his delegate to-day?"

I confess that having done my utmost I was not going to waste any more time in trying to restore peace in troubled Čaga. Politics I only meddled with inasmuch as they were contingent on the prosecution of my scientific mission. As Mandara abstained from following my pacific suggestions, all that remained to me was to make friends as speedily as possible with Maranu-not for the pleasure of its chief's acquaintance, or for interest in its welfare, but in order to