Hamed Kimiani, as he was styled by the Arabs, rushed up to Sheikh Thani, and declared that he must take the Kiwyeh road, otherwise his pagazis would all desert.  Thani replied that all the roads were the same to him, that wherever Hamed chose to go, he would follow.  They then came to my tent, and informed me of the determination at which the Wanyamwezi had arrived.  Calling my veteran Mnyamwezi, who had given me the favourable report once more to my tent, I bade him give a correct account of the Kiti road.  It was so favourable that my reply to Hamed was, that I was the master of my caravan, that it was to go wherever I told the kirangozi, not where the pagazis chose; that when I told them to halt they must halt, and when I commanded a march, a march should be made; and that as I fed them well and did not overwork them, I should like to see the pagazi or soldier that disobeyed me.  “You made up your mind just now that you would take the Simbo road, and we were agreed upon it, now your pagazis say they will take, the Kiwyeh road, or desert.  Go on the Kiwyeh road and pay twenty doti muhongo.  I and my caravan to-morrow morning will take the Kiti road, and when you find me in Unyanyembe one day ahead of you, you will be sorry you did not take the same road.”

This resolution of mine had the effect of again changing the current of Hamed’s thoughts, for he instantly said, “That is the best road after all, and as the Sahib is determined to go on it, and we have all travelled together through the bad land of the Wagogo, Inshallah! let us all go the same way,” and Thani=-good old man—­not objecting, and Hamed having decided, they both joyfully went out of the tent to communicate the news.

On the 7th the caravans—­apparently unanimous that the Kiti road was to be taken—­were led as usual by Hamed’s kirangozi.  We had barely gone a mile before I perceived that we had left the Simbo road, had taken the direction of Kiti, and, by a cunning detour, were now fast approaching the defile of the mountain ridge before us, which admitted access to the higher plateau of Kiwyeh.  Instantly halting my caravan, I summoned the veteran who had travelled by Kiti, and asked him whether we were not going towards Kiwyeh.  He replied that we were.  Calling my pagazis together, I bade Bombay tell them that the Musuugu never changed his mind; that as I had said my caravan should march by Kiti; to Kiti it must go whether the Arabs followed or not.  I then ordered the veteran to take up his load and show the kirangozi the proper road to Kiti.  The Wanyamwezi pagazis put down their bales, and then there was every indication of a mutiny.  The Wangwana soldiers were next ordered to load their guns and to flank the caravan, and shoot the first pagazis who made an attempt to run away.  Dismounting, I seized my whip, and, advancing towards the first pagazi who had put down his load, I motioned to him to take up his load and march.  It was unnecessary to proceed further;