His answer caused me to regret the question.
"Plenty of those slaves cannibal men, Baas.

Think they eat the Arabs and like them very much," he said with a yawn, then went to sleep again.
I did not continue the conversation.
When at length we made a start on the following morning the sun was high over us.

Indeed, there was a great deal to do.

The guns and ammunition of the dead Arabs had to be collected; the ivory, of which they carried a good store, must be buried, for to take it with us was impossible, and the loads apportioned.[*] Also it was necessary to make litters for the wounded, and to stir up the slaves from their debauch, into the nature of which I made no further inquiries, was no easy task.

On mustering them I found that a good number had vanished during the night, where to I do not know.