The 7th of June was the day fixed for our departure from Mukondoku, so the day before, the Arabs came to my tent to counsel with me as to the route we should adopt.  On calling together the kirangozis of the respective caravans and veteran Wanyamwezi pagazis, we learned there were three roads leading from Mukondoku to Uyanzi.  The first was the southern road, and the one generally adopted, for the reasons already stated, and led by Kiwyeh.  To this Hamed raised objections.  “The Sultan was bad,” he said; “he sometimes charged a caravan twenty doti; our caravan would have to pay about sixty doti.  The Kiwyeh road would not do at all.  Besides,” he added, “we have to make a terekeza to reach Kiwyeh, and then we will not reach it before the day after to-morrow.”  The second was the central road.  We should arrive at Munieka on the morrow; the day after would be a terekeza from Mabunguru Nullah to a camp near Unyambogi; two hours the next day would bring us to Kiti, where there was plenty of water and food.  As neither of the kirangozis or Arabs knew this road, and its description came from one of my ancient pagazis, Hamed said he did not like to trust the guidance of such a large caravan in the hands of an old Mnyamwezi, and would therefore prefer to hear about the third road, before rendering his decision.  The third road was the northern.  It led past numerous villages of the Wagogo for the first two hours; then we should strike a jungle; and a three hours’ march would then bring us to Simbo, where there was water, but no village.  Starting early next morning, we would travel six hours when we would arrive at a pool of water.  Here taking a short rest, an afternoon march of five hours would bring us within three hours of another village.  As this last road was known to many, Hamed said, “Sheikh Thani, tell the Sahib that I think this is the best road.”  Sheikh Thani was told, after he had informed me that, as I had marched with them through Ugogo, if they decided upon going by Simbo, my caravan would follow.

Immediately after the discussion among the principals respecting the merits of the several routes, arose a discussion among the pagazis which resulted in an obstinate clamor against the Simbo road, for its long terekeza and scant prospects of water, the dislike to the Simbo road communicated itself to all the caravans, and soon it was magnified by reports of a wilderness reaching from Simbo to Kusuri, where there was neither food nor water to be obtained.  Hamed’s pagazis, and those of the Arab servants, rose in a body and declared they could not go on that march, and if Hamed insisted upon adopting it they would put their packs down and leave him to carry them himself.