The Kinganni river was reached by a bridge rapidly formed with American axes, the donkeys refusing to pass through the water.
The country due west of Bagomoyo was found to be covered with towns and villages which were previously unknown.
Soon after starting, Omar, the watch-dog was missing, when Mabruki, hastening back, found him at the previous halting-place.
One of the caravans at the same place was detained by the sickness of three of the pagazis, whose places it was necessary to supply.
Stanley soon had to experience the invariable troubles of African travellers. His two horses died within a few hours of each other, both, however, from disease of long standing, and not from the climate.
Few men were better able to deal with the rogueries of the petty chiefs he met with than Mr Stanley. He had always a ready answer, and invariably managed to catch them in their own traps, while the “great master,” as he was
called, managed to keep all his subordinates in pretty good order.
One of his pagazis, Khamisi, under Shaw’s command, having absconded, Uledi and Ferajji found him, having fallen into the hands of some plundering Washensi, who were about to kill him. A court of eight soldiers and eight pagazis, having been convened, condemned him to be flogged with the “great master’s” donkey-whip. As Shaw ought to have kept a better look out, he was ordered to give him one blow and the pagazis and soldiers the remainder. This being done, the man was pardoned.
Moving on, the expedition passed Simbamwenni, the capital of Useguhha, the fortifications of which are equal to any met with in Persia. The area of the town is about half a square mile, while four towers of stone guard each corner. There are four gates, one in each wall, which are closed with solid square doors of African teak, and carved with complicated devices.