THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 459 



precision that the head of the crocodile was almost severed, 

 though the distance was full fifty yards. 



Mtesa conceived a strong affection for Stanley, and repeatedly 

 invited him to his palace, where much of the time was devoted 

 to a discussion of religion, and so earnestly did Stanley relate 

 the story of Christ's life and sufferings that he won the king 

 over from Mohammedanism to the Christian faith. 



ATTACKED BY THE SAVAGES OF THE LAKE. 



UPON Stanley's departure for his camp at the southern 

 extremity of Victoria lake, Mtesa supplied hirn with thirty canoes 

 and a large force of men under the leadership of Magassa, but 

 this fellow, who had been promoted, proved to be an obstinate, 

 lazy, and most unreliable officer, whom Stanley had to frequently 

 scold and threaten, and finally send backto Uganda. The escort 

 of thirty canoes did not accompany him more than fifty miles, 

 when he was left alone again to complete the exploration of the 

 lake. 



Nothing occurred to arrest their progress until the 28th of 

 April, when hunger induced them to steer for an island in quest 

 of food. When fifty yards from shore, a gratt number of natives 

 rushed down the slopes, uttering fierce ejaculations and war cries. 

 As this was a common circumstance, Stanley thought but little of 

 it, having no doubt that the' natives would be speedily reconciled 

 by the payment of a few yards of cloth and strings of beads. 



As the boat came near the shore, several rushed into the water 

 and, seizing it, dragged it about twenty yards over the rocky 

 beach, high and dry. Then ensued an indescribable scene ; a 

 thousand black devils, armed with bows, spears and knotty war- 

 clubs, swarmed around the boat, with threatening gestures, and 

 yelling like demons. Stanley arose to confront them, with a 

 revolver in each hand, but his guides restrained him, as any 

 resistance would have only invited a massacre. At length an old 

 man, who was a leader of the warlike host, was somewhat pla- 

 cated by a liberal present of beads and cloth, and through his 

 influence the crowd was drawn off a little way for a council. 

 Stanley seized this opportunity to effect his escape ; he ordered 



