1883. yams, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins, besides which
Dec. 2 to 10.
Wans the chiefs’ women, at the suggestion of the guide,
.us«). neglected to provide for the necessities of
the whites, and had brought eggs and fowls, while a
small flock of goats was transported to our new island
home.
Between Siwa-Siwa and myself it might be said to
be love at first sight. Which of us was most effusive
it would be difficult to say. His sunny brown face was
aglow with so much candour and boyish delight, that
probably this caused a warm and spontaneous reciprocity
on my part. I admired greatly the loving
possessive manner in which his women surrounded me,
and cooed their sweetest into each of my ears, without
exciting in the least Siwa-Siwa’s jealousy, or alarming
his susceptibilities. Agreements with Siwa-Siwa required
no casuistry to urge his signature. The Wenya
had told him everything, and was present to guide his
judgment if he hesitated. Siwa-Siwa confided solely
in my honour that my coming among them boded no
evil, but who knows what good? “ Your people shall
be my children,” said he, “ in your absence. Go in
safety. It will be my task to feed them, and until you
return I shall dream every night of you.” Good
Fortune certainly seemed to have prepared for me
pleasant places in the wilderness !
There only remained one more duty, and that seemed
for a time tire most difficult, viz., selecting a substitute
for the person whom I had conveyed to Stanley Falls
to take charge of the station, only to hear him at the
last, pleading earnestly to be returned to the coast.
There only remained three engineers—two Scotchmen
and a German—and an English man-of-war’s man,
who acted as skipper of the A.I.A. steam-launch.
Binnie, a little Scotchman, about 5 feet 3 inches in
height, begged to be appointed, but his very slight
appearance caused me to be anxious. However, arguing
1883.
Dec. 2 to 10.
Wané
that if a man, after arriving in mid-Africa and
bearing tbe fatigues of the journey, is so enamoured
of a residence there that he volunteers to remain, it
appeared to me to be evidence that he was possessed of
a superior and firm, soul that would carry him through
any physical weakness, and Binnie, the engineer of
the Royal, was accordingly appointed chief of Stanley
Falls Station pro tem.
We cleared about four acres of ground for him, constructed
a dwelling-place for him, furnished him with
tools, axes, hoes, hammers and nails, gave him provisions
of wheat flour, meats, coffee, tea, chocolate,
sugar, milk, soups, jam, butter, potatoes, bacon, lard,
sauce, tapioca, vinegar, brandy, ‘ and candles, and
stocked his goods store with cloth of various kinds,
beads of many colours, cowries, brass wire, rings,
wristlets and anklets, tin plates and mugs and pans.
Leaving with him thirty-one armed men—-soldier-
labourers—and a plentiful reserve of ammunition, with
abundance of sage advice to be prudent and just in
his government, amiable and patient in his intercourse,
trustful and courageous, we committed him to the care
of Providence, and on the 10th of December we turned