--The Bagohe retire from the war. This month is
unlucky. I visited Lewale and Nkasiwa, putting a blister on the latter,
for paralytic arm, to please him. Lewale says that a general flight from
the war has taken place. The excuse is hunger.

He confirms the great damage done by a cyclone at Zanzibar to shipping,
houses, cocoa-nut palms, mango-trees, and clove-trees, also houses and
dhows, five days after Burghash returned. Sofeu volunteers to go with
us, because Mohamad Bogharib never gave him anything, and Bwana Mohinna
has asked him to go with him. I have accepted his offer, and will
explain to Mohamad, when I see him, that this is what he promised me in
the way of giving men, but never performed.

_27th July, 1872._--At dawn a loud rumbling in the east as if of
thunder, possibly a slight earthquake; no thunder-clouds visible.

Bin Nassib came last night and visited me before going home to his own
house; a tall, brown, polite Arab. He says that he lately received a
packet for Mr. Stanley from the American Consul, sealed in tin, and sent
it back: this is the eleventh that came to Stanley. A party of native
traders who went with the Baganda were attacked by Mirambo's people, and
driven back with the loss of all their goods and one killed. The
fugitives returned this morning sorely downcast. A party of twenty-three
loads left for Karagwe a few days ago, and the leader alone has
returned; he does not know more than that one was killed. Another was
slain on this side of M'futu by Mirambo's people yesterday, the country
thus is still in a terribly disturbed state. Sheikh bin Nassib says that
the Arabs have rooted out fifty-two headmen who were Mirambo's allies.

_28th July, 1872._--To Nkasiwa; blistered him, as the first relieved the
pain and pleased him greatly; hope he may derive benefit.

Cold east winds, and clouded thickly over all the sky.

_29th July, 1872._--Making flour of rice for the journey. Visited Sheikh
bin Nassib, who has a severe attack of fever; he cannot avoid going to
the war. He bought a donkey with the tusk he stole from Lewale, and it
died yesterday; now Lewale says, "Give me back my tusk;" and the Arab
replies, "Give me back my donkey." The father must pay, but his son's
character is lost as well as the donkey. Bin Nassib gave me a present of
wheaten bread and cakes.

_30th July, 1872._--Weary waiting this, and the best time for travelling
passes over unused. High winds from the east every day b