THE GATEWAY TO KENYA 



over the pages until I came to an entry recording the 

 arrival of the "Barracouta" at Mombasa on 3rd Decem- 

 ber 1823. 



At 3.^0 abreast of Mombasa. Hauled to the wind, 

 sent a boat in to sound . . . at 4 brought up in 11 

 fathoms. Showed our colours . . . was anstuered by the 

 fort on shore. They hoisted a red flag; came off a boat 

 from the shore and sent two boats to examine close in 

 shore. As the boats returned up and down Royal yards 

 and struck the masts. 



4th December 1823. 



Light airs with lightning at daylight — sent the 

 Ramsden and Portia with Lieut. Boteler to survey the 

 reefs. Later came on board, some of the grandees from 

 the Town, bringing with them^ some fruit and two 

 sheep. 



"British prestige had already reached Mombasa," says 

 Lieut. Boteler in his diary, and the inhabitants welcomed 

 the white men who "although differing so widely in 

 religion and customs yet ever protected the oppressed 

 and respected the shrines of liberty." 



The probability is that when Lieut. Boteler was sent 

 on shore by his Captain he so endeared himself to the 

 natives by his straightforwardness and uprightness of 

 character, that when he departed they said, "This is a 

 good man, his flag must be a good flag; we must hoist 



lOI 



