Page 53 - SoMJ Vol 74 - No 1, 2021

The Mwasi Expedition 1895 43

it was crossed without any accident. We camped that night at a small open space
about 8 miles from the Bua, rain falling incessantly. At this place we were joined
by about 800 men with guns who came from Kota Kota and the villages around.
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At the next camping place on the 28 we were joined by at least 1200 [this figure
is circled and the figure 3500, also circled, written above] men all fully armed. All
the men had been summoned by Mr. Swann from the different villages to the north
of Kota Kota and, in my opinion, there were considerably more than I knew what
to do with. They were however most orderly and, at my request, when on the
march they were kept back fully half a mile from the rest of the column under Mr.
Swann and [Sergeant Major] Ali Kiongwe.
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On the 4 day, viz. the 29 , we emerged from the forest on to a wide
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plain and arrived at the friendly village of Mawimbe ten miles to the east of
Mwasi’s.
It was from this place that Mr. Swann, as Political Officer, sent a last
message to Chief Mwasi asking him whether he would give up Saidi Mwuzungu
[sometimes spelt Muzungu] or not. The reply came late at night, that if a white
man, and if not a white man a capitão would come by himself to the boma, the
matter would be considered. There was of course no answer to be made to this.
We marched at 6 a.m. on the morning of the 30 December in a
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drenching downpour of rain, the column being divided into two portions.
The first party under Havildar Major Hakim Singh consisted of 60
regulars, and 40 Kota Kota Irregulars under Mr. A. J. Swann; this force constituted
the advance guard, 30 Atonga being in extended order in front.
The 7-pounder under Sergeant Major Devoy together with 8 gunners
accompanied this party. The second party, or main body under myself, consisted
of 70 regulars, together with 30 Kota Kota irregulars.
The irregulars in both parties were during the attack to form the 2 line.
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The 3 line was composed solely of Irregulars. The porters with loads came
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behind the second party with a guard of 20 rifles composed as per margin. [4
Sikhs, 12 Makua, 4 Kota Kota irregulars].
The rear guard consisted of the remainder of the Kota Kota irregulars
under Sergeant Major Ali Kiongwe and the Kota Kota chiefs.
At 7 o’clock we came upon the first village belonging to the chief Mwasi.
It was deserted with the exception of five men who fired off their guns and then
ran off. The Atonga of the advance guard had no difficulty in making the men
prisoners.
We came upon several other small villages all with bomas during the
next hour all of which were destroyed and burnt by the rear guard.
When within 3 miles of Mwasi’s a small party of men without guns met
the advance guard. It turned out to be Saidi Mwuzungu accompanied by 4 men,
from the chief himself, with a message to the effect that he had sent Saidi, but that
he wished to fight the white man and kill him. Just at that moment several shots