lest I should run away. In the morning it was
rumoured over the village that a handsome
slave was captured from a strange tribe, and
many people came to see me, one of whom had
seen us at Ntamo, and recognized me. This
man immediately charged the two men with having
stolen one of the white man’s men , and he
drew such a picture of you, master, with large
eyes of fire and long hair, who owned a gun
that shot all day, that all the people became
frightened, and compelled the two men to take
me back to where they had found me. They
at once returned me my clothes, and brought
me to the place near where I had tied my canoe.
They then released me, saying, ‘ Go to your king;
here is food for you; and do not tell him what
we have done to you; but tell him you met
friends who * saved you, and it shall be well
with us.’ ”
The other two men, seeking for means to
cross the river, met Soudi sitting by his canoe.
The three became so encouraged at one another’s
presence that they resolved to cross the
river rather than endure further anxiety in a
strange land. Despair gave them courage , and
though the river was rapid, they succeeded in
crossing, a mile below the place they had started
from, without accident.
On the 3rd April we descended another mile
and a half of dangerous rapids, during which
rApril 3. i 877-] OUR SYSTEM OF PROGRESS. 79
[ Rapids- J
several accidents occurred. One canoe was upset
which contained fifty tusks of ivory and a sack
0f beads. Four men had narrow escapes from
drowning, but Uledi, my coxswain, saved them.
I myself tumbled headlong into a small basin,
and saved myself with difficulty from being swept
away by the receding tide.
Our system of progress was to begin each
day with Frank leading the Expedition overland
to a camp at the head of some inlet, cove,
or recess, near rapids or falls, where, with the
older men, women, and children, he constructed
a camp; the working party, consisting of the
younger men, returning to assist me with the
canoes down to the new camp. Anxious for
the safety of the people, I superintended the
river work myself, and each day led the way
in the boat. On approaching rapids I selected
three or four of the boat’s crew (and always
Uledi, the coxswain), and clambered along the
great rocks piled along the base of the steeply
sloping hills, until I had examined the scene.
If the rapids or -fall were deemed impassable
by water, I planned the shortest and safest route
across the projecting points, and then, mustering
the people, strewed a broad track with
bushes, over which, as soon as completed, we
set to work to haul our vessels beyond the
dangerous water, when we lowered them into
the water, and pursued our way to camp, where