Msiri had been in the habit of displaying the heads of his enemies atop poles outside his boma ( enclosure ) .
The expedition 's men hoisted his own head alongside them in an attempt to strike fear into the locals .
Msiri had been in the habit of displaying the heads of his enemies atop poles outside his boma ( enclosure ) , and the expedition 's men hoisted his own head alongside them in an attempt to strike fear into the locals .