X.] "WESTWAED HO!" 127 



ing heard that his brother — an interpreter on board one of her November, 

 majesty's cruisers — had been killed at Kilwa, was desirous of ^8'^^- 

 returning, for the sake of his mother, who had now no son at 

 Zanzibar. 



I much regretted losing Issa, for he was very useful, and kept 

 correct accounts of all stores expended, besides being most me- 

 thodical, and possessing considerable influence among the men. 



Bombay was certainly faithful and firm in attachment ; in 

 fact, he reminded me of the old Scottish servant who, when his 

 master said they must part, replied " Na, na ; I'm no' gangin'. 

 If ye dinna ken whan ye've a gude servant, I ken whan I've a 

 gude place." Sometimes he would work well, and prove real- 

 ly serviceable ; but he was usually afraid of the men, and drink 

 was his bane. 



The personnel of my expedition now consisted of Bombay, 

 head-man; Bilal Wadi Asmani, second in command — Asmani 

 who had been with Stanley and Livingstone as guide, and now 

 filled that post with me — accompanied by his inseparable friend, 

 Mabruki ; Mohammed Malim, my servant, a good interpreter 

 and tailor ; Hamees, gun-bearer, engaged at TJnyanyembe ; boy 

 Jacko, freed by Said ibn Salim to accompany me ; Sambo, cook 

 — his claims to that ofiice rating on the fact of his having been 

 cook's mate in an English merchant ship ; Kombo, cook's mate, 

 and a body of askari and pagazi, amounting in all to about one 

 hundred men, desertions and engagements causing the total to 

 vary daily. 



On the 9tli of November, Livingstone's caravan, accompa- 

 nied by Dillon and Murphy, started for the coast, while my cry 

 was " Westward ho !" I was the first to start, although I was 

 obliged to leave a quantity of stoi-fes behind under charge of 

 Bombay, owing to the non-appearance of pagazi. Consequent- 

 ly, I had to halt at Mkwemkwe, only a short distance from 

 Kwiharah. 



The evening before we parted was a solemn time both for 

 Dillon and myself. We talked of our homes, and of meet- 

 ing in England ; but whether we really cherished that hope of 

 meeting again, I scarcely know. We must both have had grave 

 misgivings. I know that many such disquieted my mind at 

 that moment, for I felt my health had failed, and before me all 



