THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 103 



bosom before he saw a large canoe, well laden with native?* 

 who came toward him a short space, then retreated to the shore 

 with drums beating. This was a signal of war, but Speke did 

 not understand it, though cautioned by his guides. He had 

 heard the drum beat daily at Uganda, and could not believe that 

 within forty miles of that place the customs could be so widely 

 variant. 



As he came near the shore, a large party of the Unyoro 

 natives were seen dancing, beating drums, and jabbing their 

 spears, challenging Speke's boats to come to shore. It was now 

 growing dusk, and hoping to conciliate the vengeful barbarians, 

 he offered them presents ; but these were disdained, and as the 

 shawdows of darkness increased, the hostile natives pushed out 

 in boats and attacked Speke's men, who numbered only twenty ; 

 these, instead of offering resistance, as ordered, began to cry out 

 for mercy, and refused abjectly to use their carbines. The 

 resistance, therefore, fell entirely upon Speke, who shot three of 

 the attacking party. The noise and effect of the gun produced 

 a panic among the enemy, who returned to shore as quickly as 

 possible, and gaining that, scrambled up the bank and rapidly 

 disappeared. 



After boating on the lake for some time, Speke resumed his 

 march toward the palace of Kamrasi, who had already been 

 apprised by Grant of his coming, and he sent 150 of his war- 

 riors to conduct Speke to the capital of his dominion. This 

 accession of men was very fortunate, as Speke's party had been 

 reduced by desertion to less than twenty, and they would have 

 been compelled to abandon a portion of the supplies except for 

 the opportune arrival of Kamrasi 's men. 



On the 9th of September Unyoro was reached. There was 

 much disappointment at the failure of king Kamrasi to receive 

 the party, but after some parley with the chief officer, quarters 

 were provided in some miserable little huts outside of the palace 

 grounds. They also received a small supply of provisions, and 

 were told to await until the next day, when better accommodations 

 would be provided. The afternoon was spent in conversation 



