210 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



CHAPTER XH. 



ADIEU TO EAMRASI. 



IN the middle of November, at the end of the rainy season, 

 after so many months of suffering, Baker left Unyoro for Shooa, 

 accompanied by Ibrahim, whose collection of ivory was so great 

 that it required the services of 700 porters to carry it. Kamrasi 

 came out to bid them adieu, and to beg Baker once more for 

 the little rifle, as he said the gun given him by Speke had 

 bursted, which was true, for he had driven a ball into the muzzle 

 and then fired it with disastrous results. But Baker would not 

 yield the coveted weapon. The journey was through a dry 

 country, and the difficulties of traveling were light in comparison 

 to what they had been. 



"On the fifth day's march from the Victoria Nile," says 

 Baker, "we arrived at Shooa; the change was delightful after 

 the wet and dense vegetation of Unyoro : the country was dry, 

 and the grass low and of fine quality. We took possession of 

 our camp, that had already been prepared for us in a large court- 

 yard well cemented with cow- dung and clay, and fenced with a 

 strong row of palisades. A large tree grew in the centre. Several 

 huts were erected for interpreters and servants, and a tolerably 

 commodious hut, the roof overgrown with pumpkins, was 

 arranged for our mansion. That evening the native women 

 crowded to our camp to welcome my wife home, and to dance in 

 honor of our return ; for which exhibition they expected a present 

 of a cow. They danced in a circle, holding each other's hands, 

 while three stood just outside the circle and directed the move- 

 ments of the dancers. They were all quite naked except the 

 little cloth in front and the tail-piece behind." 



At Shooa many of Ibrahim's porters deserted, which left him 

 in a sad plight. To compensate his loss, he sent 300 of his men 

 upon a marauding expedition against a neighboring village that 

 was under the rule of a brave chief named Werdalla, This man 



