: "Honoured English lord, I am a trader here of Portuguese
nationality, but born of an Arab mother of high birth and brought up
among that people. I have gardens on the mainland, tended by my native
servants who are as children to me, where I grow palms and cassava and
ground nuts and plantains and many other kinds of produce. All the
tribes in this district look upon me as their chief and venerated
father."
A.Q.: "Then, noble Hassan, you will be able to pass us through them,
seeing that we are peaceful hunters who wish to harm no one."
(A long consultation between Hassan and Delgado, during which I
ordered Mavovo to bring his Zulus on deck with their guns.)
H.: "Honoured English lord, I cannot allow you to land."
A.Q.: "Noble son of the Prophet, I intend to land with my friend, my
followers, my donkeys and my goods early to-morrow morning. If I can
do so with your leave I shall be glad. If not----" and I glanced at
the fierce group of hunters behind me.
H.: "Honoured English lord, I shall be grieved to use force, but let
me tell you that in my peaceful village ashore I have at least a
hundred men armed with rifles, whereas here I see under twenty.
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