business on his own account, and commenced work by presenting me
with a pot of ghee and flour, saying at the same time "empty
words did not show true love," and hoping that I would prove mine
by making some slight return. To get rid of the animal I gave
him the full value of his present in cloth, which he no sooner
pocketed than he had the audacity to accuse Grant of sacrilege
for having shot a lizard on a holy stone, and demanded four
cloths to pay atonement for this offence against the "church."
As yet, he said, the chief was not aware of the damage done, and
it was well he was not; for he would himself, if I only paid him
the four cloths, settle matters quietly, otherwise there would be
no knowing what demands might be made on my cloth. It was
necessary to get up hot temper, else there was no knowing how far
he would go; so I returned him his presents, and told the sheikh,
instead of giving four, to fling six cloths in his face, and tell
him that the holy-stone story was merely a humbug, and I would
take care no more white men ever came to see him again.

Some Wanyamuezi porters, who had been left sick here by former
caravans, now wished to take service with me as far as Kaze; but
the Wagogo, hearing of their desire, frightened them off it. A
report also at this time was brought to us, that a caravan had
just arrived at our last ground, having come up from Whindi,
direct by the line of the Wami river, in its upper course called
Mukondokua, without crossing a single hill all the way; I
therefore sent three men to see if they had any porters to spare,
as it was said they had; but the three men, although they left
their bows and arrows behind, never came back.

Another mule died to-day. This was perplexing indeed, but to