ABSTRACT
IT was not until the 26th (August) that I could commence a second ascent of the mountain. Muinyi Mbuana, after doing his utmost to poison Mandara’s mind against me, to thwart my purposes, and to get me out of the country, returned to Taveta upon hearing of the threatened attack of the Wataita upon Moche. The field was then clear, and Mandara became more reasonable. My guide behaved badly, threatened to leave me, and a great deal else; but in a while he became more tractable. At length, all difficulties were removed, and another party was organized. This time I took only the guide and Tofiki, of my own men; the Wanika were utterly useless, and were left behind, of which they were heartily glad. As guides, Mandara gave me Mtema and a brother of Marondo, Marondo himself having fallen ill. The first made his appearance at seven in the morning, and we set out at once. We called for the other guide on the way, and found him busily engaged preparing for the trip. Standing before his hut, he was receiving at the hands of his wife a thick covering of grease ! He was a fine, tall, muscular fellow, quite a model, and absolutely without clothing ! The scene brought to my mind the meeting of Ulysses with the Princess Nausicaa, on the shores of Phseacia, only that there was less of shame and delicacy, if not more innocence, in this than in the Homeric scene. Our arrival did not disconcert them in the least; the lubricating process went on till every part had received its due proportion of grease, and the hero shone again. But his wife was murmuring rebellion in his ears all the time. “ What,” said she, “ are you to have for this journey ? It is one of danger. You will feel the cold ; let them give you a cloth before you start! Unless they do so, I would not go if I were you.” This was mentioned to me. I would gladly have given a cloth had I had one, but I had not, and explained the arrangement I had made with the mange instead. Nothing more was said, and the man, seizing a bundle of skins, at once led the way.
