Chapter VI. 



profoiiiully convinced that to go towards the Congo was 

 equivalent to going to meet certain deatli. It was only too 

 natural that, with these feelings, tliey should show extreme 

 reluctance to following the Prince westward. 



On the morning of tlie lotli June, there were only nine 

 Bakonjo at Bujongolo, hardly a sufficient numher, with the 

 addition of tlie four guides and Botta, to carry the kit of 

 the Duke, now reduced to ahsolute necessities and rations for 

 a few (lavs. At the last moment tlie natives put forward a 

 claim to heing paid every day, and the Duke of the Ahruzzi 

 was obliged to load liimsclf with a not inconsiderable weight 



of rupees. 



Finally, about eight o'clock, as no other excuse for fresh 

 delav was available, they started from camp in brilliant sun- 

 shine. First they. went u|) the little valley which, as we saw, 

 opens on the i-ight-hand sidt- of tlie Mobuku, near to 

 Bujongolo. Thev followed the liiie of the small torrent, 

 crossing from one bank to the other, and so reached the 

 top of tilt' spur, and came into a valley formed by a 

 torrent fed from the southern glaciers of Kiyanja, This is 

 the same torrent which forms the picturesque waterfall on 

 tilt* rii;ht slt)])e of tlio plain of Buamba. Close to the head 

 of the little valley are two projecting rocks forming natural 

 shelters, similar to those of Kicliuchu and Buamlxi. 



The gromid was drenched with the I'aiii which had fallen 

 duihig the lireceding days, and aftt-i' an hoin-"s march everyone 

 was wet to the skin, and coNcrt'd with mud. The march was 

 tiring, because at every few stej)S yt)U slipped oi- sank into the 

 mud. The porteis were suspicious of the unknown country 

 towards which their steps were directed, and ])roceeded 

 unwillinglv. with e.\as))erat ing slowness. They had stopped 



1G(J 



