All right was now a matter or pure might, and lucky it was that it did not end in a fight between our men and the villagers.

These might be afterwards seen, one by one, covered with blood, scampering home each with his spoil--a piece of tripe, or liver, or lights, or whatever else it might have been his fortune to get off with.
We were still in great want of men; but rather than stop a day, as all delays only lead to more difficulties, I pushed on to Magomba's palace with the assistance of some Wagogo carrying our baggage, each taking one cloth as his hire.

The chief wazir at once come out to meet me on the way, and in an apparently affable manner, as an old friend, begged that I would live in the palace--a bait which I did not take, as I knew my friend by experience a little too well.

He then, in the politest possible manner, told me that a great dearth of food was oppressing the land--so much so, that pretty cloths only would purchase grain.

I now wished to settle my hongo, but the great chief could not hear of such indecent haste.
The next day, too, the chief was too drunk to listen to any one, and I must have patience.