348 ACROSS AFRICA. [Ciiap. 



July, he had been obliged to wait for Alvez's caravan before attempt- 

 1875. ing iQ pagg through Ussambi and Ulunda. He said that the 

 threats of Alvez, who feared I should take him for a guide, 

 had deterred him from coming to me before, and he assured me 

 of his willingness to go with me; but as Alvez would surely 

 march almost immediately, he thought it better to cross Ussam- 

 bi in his company. I pressed him to wait not a moment long- 

 er ; but he adhered to his view of the matter, and nothing re- 

 mained but to try further persuasion with Alvez. 



In the caravan there was, I knew, a large party altogether 

 weary of waiting, but afraid to start by themselves, and these I 

 incited to complain. Palaver after palaver resulted from this, 

 and days passed away, but still no move was made. 



I then determined to march by myself, at all hazards ; on hear- 

 ing which, Bastian and the discontented part of Alvez's men 

 promised to follow me. This gave rise to much stormy discus- 

 sion, for Alvez was furious at the idea of my slipping through 

 his fingers. He temporized by declaring that if I would only 

 remain three days longer he would positively start, whether the 

 people behind arrived or not; again asserting that it was not 

 Coimbra, but the natives of Bihe, for whom he detained the 

 caravan, since their relatives at that place would seize his ivory 

 if he returned without these men. 



However, I stood firm, and marched on the Tth of July, true 

 to my decision, Alvez and Bastian accompanying me. 



