96 
THROUGH THE DARK CONTINENT. 
circumnavigating the great “ Nianja,” as the Wasukuma call the lake. It was* 
also incumbent upon me to ascertain the political condition of the country 
before leaving the port and the camp, that my mind might be at rest about its 
safety during my contemplated absence. Estimates were also to be entered 
ujwn as to the quantity of cloth and beads likely to be required for the pro 
visioning of the expeditionary force during my absence, and as to the amount 
of tribute and presents to be bestowed upon the King of Uchambi—of which 
Kagehyi was only a small district, and to whom Prince Kaduma was only a 
subordinate and tributary. In brief, my own personal work was but begun, 
and pages would not sufEce to describe in detail the full extent of the new 
duties now devolving upon me. 
During the afternoon the Wasukuma recruits were summoned to receive 
farewell gifts, and nearly all were discharged. Then 13 dot! of cloth were 
measured for the King of Uchambi, and 10 doti for Prince Kaduma; and 
beads were also given in proportion—the expectations of these two magnates 
and their favourite wives being thus satisfactorily realised. These grave affairs 
were not to bo disposed of as mere trivialities, and occupied mo many hours 
of our second day’s life at Kagehyi. Meanwhile the Wangwana and Wan- 
yamwezi required me to show my appreciation of their fidelity to me during 
the march, and chiefs and men received accordingly substantial tokens thereof. 
Besides new cloths to wear, and l)cads to purchase luxuries, I was expected to 
furnish them with meat for a banquet ; and in accordance with their just 
wishes, six bullocks were purchased and slaughtered for their benefit. In 
addition to which, as a banquet would be rather tame without wine for cheer, 
twenty gallons of pombe—beer in a state of natural fermentation—were dis 
tributed. To satisfy all which demands and expectations, three full bales of 
cloth and 120 lbs. of beads were disbursed. 
On the evening of the second day, I was rewarded for my liberality when I 
saw the general contentment, and heard on all sides expressions of esteem and 
renewed loyalty. 
Nor were 1 rank and Fred forgotten, for I gave permission for them to issue 
for themselves, each day while in camp, four yards of cloth, or two fundo of 
beads, to 1% expended as they thought fit, over and above ration money. 
Small as this may seem, it was really equal to a gift of 4». j)er day pocket-money. 
Though they lived on similar food to that cooked for myself, I observed that 
they chose to indulge in many things which I could not digest, or for which I 
had no appetite, such as ground-nuts, rijxj bananas, plantains, and parched 
green corn, bred Barker was remarkably partial to these things. This exti* 
]K)cket-moncy also served to purchase a larger quantity of milk, eggs, chickens, 
and rice from the Wasukuma and Sungoro. My daily fare at this time con 
sisted principally of chickens, sweet potatoes, milk, tea and coffee. Pocock 
and Barker varied this diet with rice, with which Sungoro furnished them, 
and bread made of Indian corn and millet.