that Frank had his reserve hidden so close at
hand. A few seconds after the. latest arrivals
had appeared on the scene, I saw great animation,
and almost at once those curious cries came
pealing up the river. There were animated
shouts, and a swaying of bodies, and, unable to
wait longer, we dashed towards the island, and
the natives on seeing us approach paddled
quickly to their landing-place.
“Well, Frank? What was the matter?” I asked.
“ I never saw such wretches in my life, sir.
When that last batch of canoes came, their behaviour,
which was decent before, changed.
They surrounded us. Half of them remained in
the canoes; those on land began to abuse us
violently, handling their spears, and acting so
furiously that if we had not risen with our guns
ready they would have speared us as we were
sitting down waiting to begin the ceremony.
But Kacheche, seeing their wild behaviour and
menacing gestures, advanced quietly from the
brushwood with his men, on seeing which they
ran to their canoes, where they held their spears
ready to launch when you came.”
“Well, no harm has been done y e t,” I replied;
“ so rest where you are, while I take Kacheche
and his men across to their side, where a camp
will be formed; because, if we delay to-day
crossing, we shall have half of the people
starving by to-morrow morning.”
«-Nov. 20) 1876.-1 SUCCESSFUL DIPLOMACY. *99 1 W en y a . J
After embarking Kacheche, we steered for a
point in the woods above the native village
and, landing thirty men with axes, proceeded
\to form a small camp, which might serve as a
Vucleus until we should be enabled to transport
the Expedition. We then floated down river
opposite the village, and, with the aid of an
interpreter, explained to them that as we had
already landed thirty men in their country, it
would be far better that they should assist us
in the ferriage, for which they might feel assured
they would be well paid. At the same time I
tossed a small bag of beads to them. In a few
minutes they consented, and six canoes, with
two men in each, accompanied us to camp.
The six canoes and the boat conveyed eighty
people safely to the left bank; and then other
canoes, animated by the good understanding
that seemed to prevail between us, advanced to
assist, and by night every soul associated with
our Expedition was rejoicing by genial campfires
in the villages of the Wenya.