battle; but a few soft words were found sufficient to make them
all withdraw and settle the matter at issue by arbitration in
some appointed place. A few men without property can cross their
lands fearlessly, though a single individual with property would
stand no chance, for they are insatiable thieves. But little is
seen of these people on the journey, as the chiefs take their
taxes by deputy, partly out of pride, and partly because they
think they can extort more by keeping in the mysterious distance.
At the same time, the caravan prefers camping in the jungles
beyond the villages to mingling with the inhabitants, where rows
might be engendered. We sometimes noticed Albinos, with greyish-
blue eyes and light straw-coloured hair. Not unfrequently we
would pass on the track side small heaps of white ashes, with a
calcined bone or two among them. These, we were told, were the
relics of burnt witches. The caravan track we had now to travel
on leads along the right bank of the Kingani valley, overlooking
Uzegura, which, corresponding with Uzaramo, only on the other
side of the Kigani, extends northwards to the Pangani river, and
is intersected in the centre by the Wami river, of which more
hereafter.

Starting on a march with a large mixed caravan, consisting of 1
corporal and 9 privates, Hottentots--1 jemadar and 25 privates,
Beluchs--1 Arab Cafila Bashi and 75 freed slaves--1 Kirangozi, or
leader, and 100 negro porters--12 mules untrained, 3 donkeys, and
22 goats--one could hardly expect to find everybody in his place
at the proper time for breaking ground; but, at the same time, it
could hardly be expected that ten men, who had actually received
their bounty-money, and had sworn fidelity, should give one the
slip the very first day. Such, however, was the case. Ten out