of aiming for the right bank, we form in line,
and keep straight down river, the boat taking
position behind. Yet after a moment’s reflection,
as I note the numbers of the savages
and the daring manner of the pursuit, and
the apparent desire of our canoes to abandon
the steady compact line, I give the order to
drop anchor. Four of our canoes affect not to
listen, until I chase them, and threaten them with
my guns. This compelled them to return to the
line, which is formed of eleven double canoes,
anchored xo yards apart. The boat moves up i
to the front, and takes position 50 yards above]
them. The shields are next lifted by the non-
combatants, men, women, and children, in the j
bows, and along the outer lines, as well as astern,
and from behind these the muskets and rifles j
are aimed.
We have sufficient time to take a view of
the mighty force bearing down on us, and to
count the number of the war-vessels which have
been collected from the Livingstone and its |
great affluent. There are fifty-four of them! A
monster canoe leads the way, with two rows of i
upstanding paddles, forty men on a side, their I
bodies bending and swaying in unison as with
a swelling barbarous chorus they drive her down
towards us. In the bow, standing on what appears
to be a platform, are ten prime young
warriors, their heads gay with feathers of the
parrot crimson and grey: at the stern, eight men,
with long paddles, whose tops are decorated
with ivory balls, guide the monster vessel; and
dancing up and down from stem to stern are
ten men, who appear to be chiefs. All the
paddles are headed with ivory balls, every head
bears a feather crown, every arm shows gleaming
white ivory armlets. From the bow of the
canoe streams a thick fringe of the long white
fibre of the Hyphene palm. The crashing sound
of large drums, a hundred blasts from ivory
horns, and a thrilling chant from two thousand
human throats, do not tend to soothe our nerves
or to increase our confidence. However, it is
“neck or nothing.” We have no time to pray,
or to take sentimental looks at the savage world,
or even to breathe a sad farewell to it. So
many other things have to be done speedily
and well. <
As the foremost canoe comes rushing down,
and its consorts on either side beating the water
into foam, and raising their jets of water with
their sharp prows, I turn to take a last look at
our people, and say to them:
“ Boys, be firm as iron; wait until you see
the first spear, and then take good aim. Dont
fire all at once. Keep aiming until you are sure
of your man. Don’t think of running away, for
only your guns can save you.”
Frank is with the Ocean on the right flank,