The Kilima-Njaro Expedition by Harry Johnston

Very early in the morning of the succeeding day-the second after our arrival in Moši-I began to prepare for the last stage of my journey, the search for a suitable site on which to establish my principal and central collecting-station. Various considerations must influence me in my selection. Firstly, it must not be too low down on the mountain, so as to be inconveniently far from my collecting-grounds; secondly, it must not be too high up or my men would suffer unduly from cold, and we should induce no natives to bring their food supplies for sale. Again, I did not wish to build too near Mandara's court in case that monarch should honour us with an inconvenient amount of his society, and always have me at his beck and call; on the other hand, if I journeyed too far into the wilderness I lost the protection Mandara was able to accord me and would, consequently, nullify the object of my settlement in Moši, which was to be enabled to pursue my avocations quietly and economically by living with a very few followers under the egis of a powerful prince.

I, therefore, after long consultation of the imperfect map, decided that a certain prominent spur of the mountain in the north-east of Mandara's country (overlooking the bed of a rivulet) would best answer my purpose for a secure and pleasant settlement. After experience showed me that this almost accidental choice would have been a strangely fortunate one, and had I made a permanent residence in Mandara's country, I should have eventually built there. But on my indicating this selection to the chief on my arrival, I could see that it met with his secret disapproval. He really feared that in establishing myself on this distant spot I should be too independent of his caprices. Yet he did not countermand it, but merely nodded and said enigmatically, "We shall see-kešo, kešo" (_kešo_! fatal word = ‘to-morrow'). However, I was determined to show him that I intended to have my own way. Accordingly, I prepared actively for departure on the morrow. I thought it ominous that no guides or message came from Mandara's court, but I, nevertheless, affected not to notice this, and gave the order cheerfully to shoulder loads and march. Only thirty men-the Zanzibaris-responded. The Rabai porters sat sullen and immovable, and raised not a finger to their loads. I asked them if they had understood me. "Perfectly," they said, "but Mandara had given them orders not to move. " "But," I exclaimed, "_I_ am your master, _I_ pay you, and I command you to take up your loads and follow me to the last stage of the journey. " "What do we care for your commands? " they replied. "Why Mandara could kill us all in a moment, and who could resist him? And you-why you daren't even beat us, because you know we should tell the missionaries. " This was indeed bitterness for me, especially the feeling that I was impotent to harm these wretches. Unfortunately, they had all received the greater part of their wages in advance, and had carefully stored up their dollars before quitting the coast, so that the threat of depriving them of the small remainder of their pay, if they failed to complete the contract, had little effect. Mandara, it appears, had tried to cajole and frighten the Zanzibaris into joining the strike, but these true-hearted Mussulmen had informed him that they had but one master and that the white man, and him only would they obey-an answer for which Mandara ever afterwards bore them a grudge. I therefore in my difficulty turned to them for counsel. Kiongwe, the head-man, whose experience under Stanley had made him a reliable adviser, proposed a daring solution of the quandary, namely, that he should proceed forthwith to Mandara's, present him my salaams, and inform him I was now ready to start, and waiting only for the promised guide. On this errand he went, and found Mandara in the best of humours, and apparently grieved to hear of the mutiny in my camp, though his one eye twinkled as he said so.