THE WORLD'S WONDERS. Ill 



other pretenses equally unreasonable and vexatious. Forbearance 

 finally lost its virtue, and Speke began to declare his independ- 

 ence, notwithstanding his great need for an escort and some 

 provisions which the king had promised him. His bold attitude 

 had the desired effect upon Kamrasi, and his consent to their 

 departure was finally obtained. Before saying adieu, however, 

 the old beggar asked for medicine that would prevent the death 

 of offspring, which is a calamity that overtakes a very large pro- 

 portion of children in that country before they are able to walk. 

 He also wanted a medicine that would cause his subjects to love 

 him. Both these remedies, of course, had to be denied, where- 

 upon the king compromised on six carbines, a hair brush, some 

 matches, a pot, and a quantity of ammunition. An escort of 

 twenty-four warriors was then provided, and ten cows were given 

 for meat. The expedition now began its' march to Madi. 



CHAPTER VI. 



HOMEWARD BOUND. 



UPON leaving Kamrasi's, Speke and his men proceeded part of 

 the way by water, in canoes, on the Kafu river, on which they 

 saw many floating islands of grass and reeds, frequently large 

 and compact enough to support cattle, which grazed upon them. 



One evening, after camping on the banks of the river, a half- 

 drunken native brought them a pot of pombe, and greatly amused 

 them with frantic charges, as if he were fighting with his spear ; 

 find after settling the supposed enemy, he delighted in trampling 

 him underfoot, spearing him repeatedly through and through, 

 then wiping the blade of the spear in the grass, and finally pol- 

 ishing it on his tufty head, when, with a grunt of satisfaction, 

 he shouldered arms and walked away a hero. 



They continued their water journey until they reached Parau- 



