188 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



On the following morning the king visited Baker in his hut, 

 and solicited him to join in an expedition against Rionga. This 

 request was declined, as the explorers could not afford to embroil 

 themselves with any of the natives. Baker was extremely anx- 

 ious to proceed, as he and his wife were both sick and out of 

 medicine ; so he importuned Kamrasi for porters and guides. 

 These were readily promised " to-morrow." But the king's 

 promises resulted in nothing; he was determined to keep the 

 travelers with him, if possible, as long as they had anything to 

 give. He continued to put them off from day to day, constantly 

 begging for everything he saw, being particularly anxious to 

 secure Baker's watch, which was the last one he had, and could 

 not be parted with. Speke had given Kamrasi several watches, 

 also a chronometer and compass, but all these were now " dead," 

 as the king declared, and he wanted at least one " live one." 



CHAPTER XI. 



DEPARTURE FOR THE LAKE. 



AFTER a provoking and unreasonable delay of three weeks at 

 Unyoro, Kamrasi provided porters and guides and suffered 

 Baker to depart, Ibrahim remaining ; but at the first camping- 

 place, about ten miles on the journey, the king overtook the 

 party for the purpose, he explained, of taking a final leave, but 

 in reality to try again for the watch and the other things which 

 his importunities had failed to secure. Baker gave him some 

 handkerchiefs and several opal beads, but again refused to give 

 him the watch, as parting with the only time-piece in the company 

 would cause much inconvenience, while it could be of no service 

 to the king. All his argument with the greedy savage was of no 

 avail, and when he again requested leave to depart, Kamrasi, in 

 the coolest manner, replied, " I will send you to the lake, as I 

 have promised ; but you must leave your wife with me 9" This 

 insult so incensed Baker that, drawing his revolver and placin 

 its muzzle within two feet of the king, he told him that should he 



