It is curious that trade-rum should form so important an article of import on the West Coast while it is almost unknown on the East Coast, for the same people began the commerce in both instances.  If we look north of Cape Delgado, we might imagine that the religious convictions of the Arabs had something to do with the matter, but the Portuguese south of Cape Delgado have no scruples in the matter, and would sell their grandfathers as well as the rum if they could make money by the transaction, they have even erected distilleries to furnish a vile spirit from the fruit of the cashew and other fruits and grain, but the trade does not succeed.  They give their slaves also rewards of spirit, or “maata bicho” ("kill the creature,” or “craving within"), and you may meet a man who, having had much intercourse with Portuguese, may beg spirits, but the trade does not pay.  The natives will drink it if furnished gratis.  The indispensable “dash” of rum on the West Coast in every political transaction with independent chiefs is, however, quite unknown.  The Moslems would certainly not abstain from trading in spirits were the trade profitable.  They often asked for brandy from me in a sly way—­as medicine; and when reminded that their religion forbade it, would say, “Oh, but we can drink it in secret.”

It is something in the nature of the people quite inexplicable, that throughout the Makonde country hernia humoralis prevails to a frightful extent; it is believed by the natives to be the result of beer drinking, so they cannot be considered as abstemious.

18th June, 1866.—­Finding that Musa did not come up with the goods I left in his charge, and fearing that all was not right, we set off with all our hands who could carry, after service yesterday morning, and in six hours’ hard tramp arrived here just in time, for a tribe of Wanindi, or Manindi, who are either Ajawas (Waiyau),[11] or pretended Mazitu, had tried to cross the Rovuma from the north bank.  They came as plunderers, and Musa having received no assistance was now ready to defend the goods.  A shot or two from the people of Kitwanga made the Wanindi desert after they had entered the water.

Six sepoys and Simon had come up this length; Reuben and Mabruki reported Richard to be dead.  This poor boy was left with the others at Liponde, and I never saw him again.  I observed him associating too much with the sepoys; and often felt inclined to reprove him, as their conversation is usually very bad, but I could not of my own knowledge say so.  He came on with the others as far as Hassane or Pachassane:  there he was too weak to come further, and as the sepoys were notoriously skulkers, I feared that poor Richard was led away by them, for I knew that they had made many attempts to draw away the other Nassick boys from their duty.  When, however, Abraham came up and reported Richard left behind by the sepoys, I became alarmed, and sent off three boys with cordials to help him on:  two days after Abraham left he seems to have died, and I feel very sorry that I was not there to do what I could.  I am told now that he never consented to the sepoy temptation:  he said to Abraham that he wished he were dead, he was so much troubled.  The people where he died were not v$ry civil to Simon.