I suggested to Sheikh Thani, upon hearing this exorbitant demand, that had I twenty Wasungu* armed with Winchester repeating rifles, the Sultan might be obliged to pay tribute to me; but Thani prayed and begged me to be cautious lest angry words might irritate the Sultan and cause him to demand a double tribute, as he was quite capable of doing so; “and if you preferred war,” said he, “your pagazis would all desert, and leave you and your cloth to the small mercy of the Wagogo.”  But I hastened to allay his fears by telling Bombay, in his presence, that I had foreseen such demands on the part of the Wagogo, and that having set aside one hundred and twenty doti of honga cloths, I should not consider myself a sufferer if the Sultan demanded and I paid forty cloths to him; that he must therefore open the honga bale, and permit Sheikh Thani to extract such cloths as the Sultan might like.

Sheikh Thani, having put on the cap of consideration and joined heads with Hamed and the faithful serviles, thought if I paid twelve doti, out of which three should be of Ulyah+ quality, that the Sultan might possibly condescend to accept our tribute; supposing he was persuaded by the oratorical words of the “Faithfuls,” that the Musungu had nothing with him but the mashiwa (boat), which would be of no use to him, come what might,—­with which prudent suggestion the Musungu concurred, seeing its wisdom. ______________________ * White men. + Best, or superior. _____________________

The slaves departed, bearing this time from our boma thirty doti, with our best wishes for their success.  In an hour they returned with empty hands, but yet unsuccessful.  The Sultan demanded six doti of Merikani, and a fundo of bubu, from the Musungu; and from the Arabs and other caravans, twelve doti more.  For the third time the slaves departed for the Sultan’s tembe, carrying with them six doti Merikani and a fundo of bubu from myself, and ten doti from the Arabs.  Again they returned to us with the Sultan’s words, “That, as the doti of the Musungu were short measure, and the cloths of the Arabs of miserable quality, the Musungu must send three doti full measure, and the Arabs five doti of Kaniki.”  My three doti were at once measured out with the longest fore-arm—­according to Kigogo measure—­and sent off by Bombay; but the Arabs, almost in despair, declared they would be ruined if they gave way to such demands, and out of the five doti demanded sent only two, with a pleading to the Sultan that he would consider what was paid as just and fair Muhongo, and not ask any more.  But the Sultan of Mvumi was by no means disposed to consider any such proposition, but declared he must have three doti, and these to be two of Ulyah cloth, and one Kitambi Barsati, which, as he was determined to obtain, were sent to him heavy with the deep maledictions of Sheikh Hamed and the despairing sighs of sheikh Thani.