— 54 — ment the villagers extract different notes, each with its individual meaning, so that by it the people can be summoned for the purpose of war, or for collecting grain or for an elephant hunt, and so on. In spite of this system of communication, we managed to engage the natives in many battles which ended in the death of the Sultan Tikma, and of his uncle Ranbu, eight of the Nyam-Nyam chieftains also surrendering to me. These had been in the habit of fighting each other continually, or rather, of hunting each other as a man would chase a fowl. As soon as I had gained dominion over them I discouraged such acts, and made them come to an agreement, one with the other. And, in very truth, I made peace to reign throughout the country so that the people began to trade and intermarry. Then the neighbouring savages heard of my justice, and of the tranquillity and ease that attended my rule, and came to me from great distances, asking me to appoint rulers over them. To such requests I acceded, so that my kingdom expanded on every side.

At this time, too, I prosecuted my trade with great vigour, and on one occasion, travelled for three months to the south and west of Deim Zubeir, on a quest for ivory. Nine days' journey to the west of the Monbutto country we came to the land of the Tikki-Tikki, a strange pygmy people, very thick-set, with long beards that would have