ABSTRACT
ON the morning of the 18th July we faced the uninhabited wilderness lying between Unika and Taita. Before leaving our quarters, however, we had to settle with Abe Mlongo, but we found him a very reasonable man. He graciously accepted three cloths (worth about a dollar and a half), one for each of his three wives, in return for his hospitality, and appeared satisfied, I mention this because to satisfy an African with anything like just and equitable payment is an achievement very complimentary to one’s abilities, and to have done so in this instance augured well for the future. We left the village at 8 p.m., but Abe Mlongo would not bid us farewell till he had seen us some distance on the road. Our way led through plantations, and ran in a direction considerably to the north of west. This was not our proper course, but we were obliged to follow what path there was, there being no direct road to Kisigau. At the termination of the “mashamba” (plantations) we came to a dead halt before a dense wood, the way through which was blocked up to prevent the ready ingress of the Wataita. We were compelled to turn aside towards the south, and so, without a path, make our way to a place where a passage through the wood could be effected with less difficulty. We found, however, anything but an easy path, having to go upon our hands and knees, the men dragging their loads after them as best they could.
