222 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



at constant intervals through the night, and the stench 

 of bilge-water as they did so was overpowering. 



We awoke to find the wind too high to admit of 

 our continuing the passage, but when it abated we 

 left our shelter and passed another day and night 

 without sight of land. 



Our boat-load consisted of twelve men, our three 

 selves, and several boxes. The two lions spent the 

 day with us, but the night with their personal attend- 

 ants in the other canoe. 



There was an awning over the middle of the boat, 

 and under this there was room for our three chairs 

 and a small folding- table, which was put up at meal- 

 time. Here we sat all day and lay all night. 



Our food was little trouble, for we had tinned meats, 

 and vegetables, and bottled fruits for lunch and dinner; 

 sardines, biscuits, and native honey for breakfast — our 

 jam was finished ; and hot tea and coffee were the 

 only items that required cooking. Water was easily 

 heated, for cook had a portable fireplace on board, 

 and the only disagreeable from it was when the smoke 

 blew into our faces. 



We dined very early, so as to dispense with lights, 

 for we did not dare attract insects into our beds by 

 using lamps, and directly the meal was over blankets 

 were hung from either end of the awning, so that 

 Mrs Talbot and I could wash and undress in privacy. 

 Then we huddled on to the boxes outside, while a 

 bed was made in the middle, and early in the morning 

 the same process was repeated. 



All this while we had seen no living thing, but on 

 the third day, at sunset, we reached the island of 

 Kumu, and then the joy of setting foot on land made 



