The people in the interior are savages of the worst sort, whom hunger has driven to take to cannibalism.

I would not have your blood upon my head.

I beg of you, therefore, to go on in this ship to Delagoa Bay, where you will find a good hotel, or to any other place you may select." A.Q.: "Might I ask you, noble sir, what is your position at Kilwa, that you consider yourself responsible for our safety ?" H.: "Honoured English lord, I am a trader here of Portuguese nationality, but born of an Arab mother of high birth and brought up among that people.

I have gardens on the mainland, tended by my native servants who are as children to me, where I grow palms and cassava and ground nuts and plantains and many other kinds of produce.

All the tribes in this district look upon me as their chief and venerated father." A.Q.: "Then, noble Hassan, you will be able to pass us through them, seeing that we are peaceful hunters who wish to harm no one." (A long consultation between Hassan and Delgado, during which I ordered Mavovo to bring his Zulus on deck with their guns.) H.: "Honoured English lord, I cannot allow you to land." A.Q.: "Noble son of the Prophet, I intend to land with my friend, my followers, my donkeys and my goods early to-morrow morning.