180 HEARTY WELCOME FROM OLD FRIENDS. 



compelled to pull the whole way down it, as there 

 was not a breath of air. After some difficulty in hit- 

 ting oif the mouth of the river, we again entered the 

 Shire. It was now pitch dark, save when the atmo- 

 sphere \vas lighted up with some jungle fire. Know- 

 ing that the little fishing-village at w^iich we spent a 

 night on our way up was not far off, I played a tune 

 or two on the cornopean. At the termination of one 

 of them I was answered by a hearty cheer from many 

 mouths not far ahead. Our old friends knew us, and 

 there was little doubt that we should receive a hearty 

 w^elcome for the night. As we drew near the spot, 

 they lighted torches to guide us, and soon we were 

 at anchor, the same old canoe being provided for our 

 use to take us to and from the boat. The natives 

 said they knew the music, and were glad we had got 

 back. I had to play for them a long time. These 

 people were really glad to see us again, and made 

 many eager inquiries regarding our journey. They 

 told us that the Mavite had been down to Maramia's 

 shortly after we passed, and saying they had seen a 

 boat go up the river, they asked that chief who and 

 what we were. Maramia, they said, told them we 

 were Portuguese, " to frighten them." This story, 

 however, subsequently turned out to be false. - 



Early next morning we were off, without a breath 

 of air, the Makololos just managing to keep steerage 

 way on the boat. This was the 28th September, and 

 as I knew the man-of-war could not arrive at the 

 mouth of the river before the beginning of November, 

 I made up my mind to leave the Expedition, and 

 walk down, hoping to get some good sport. I com- 



