_14th April, 1868._--I start off with five attendants, leaving most of
the luggage with Mohamad, and reach the Luao to spend the night.
Headman Ndowa.

_15th April, 1868._--Amoda ran away early this morning. "Wishes to
stop with his brothers." They think that, by refusing to go to Bemba,
they will force me to remain with them, and then go to Ujiji: one of
them has infused the idea into their minds that I will not pay them,
and exclaims "Look at the sepoys!"--not knowing that they are paid by
the Indian Government; and as for the Johanna men, they were prepaid
_29l. 4s._ in cash, besides clothing. I sent Amoda's bundle back to
Mohamad: my messenger got to Kabwabwata before Amoda did, and he
presented himself to my Arab friend, who, of course, scolded him: he
replied that he was tired of carrying, and no other fault had he; I
may add that I found out that Amoda wished to come south to me with
one of Mohamad Bogharib's men, but "Mpamari" told him not to return.
Now that I was fairly started, I told my messenger to say to Mohamad
that I would on no account go to Ujiji, till I had done all in my
power to reach the Lake I sought: I would even prefer waiting at Luao
or Moero, till people came to me from Ujiji to supplant the runaways.
I did not blame them very severely in my own mind for absconding: they
were tired of tramping, and so verily am I, but Mohamad, in
encouraging them to escape to him, and talking with a double tongue,
cannot be exonerated from blame. Little else can be expected from him,
he has lived some thirty-five years in the country, twenty-five being
at Casembe's, and there he had often to live by his wits.
Consciousness of my own defects makes me lenient.

_16th April, 1868._--Ndowa gives Mita or Mpamañkanana as the names of
the excavations in Muabo's hills, he says that they are sufficient to