Lion's Claw, however, would not accept it; it was too far below the mark of what he got last time.

He therefore returned the cloths to the Sheikh, as he could get no hearing from myself, and retreated in high dudgeon, threatening the caravan with a view of his terrible presence on the morrow.

Meanwhile the little Sheikh, who always carried a sword fully two-thirds the length of himself, commenced casting bullets for his double-barrelled rifle, ordered the Wanguana to load their guns, and came wheedling up to me for one more cloth, as it was no use hazarding the expedition's safety for four yards of cloth.

This is a fair specimen of tax-gathering, within twelve miles of the coast, by a native who claims the protection of Zanzibar.

We shall soon see what they are further on.