THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 509 



reached the village of Nsanda, and marching through the one 

 street in melancholy and silent procession, voiceless as sphinxes, 

 they felt their way down into a deep gully, and crawled up again 

 to the level of the village site, and camped about two hundred 

 yards away. They were soon visited by the chief, a young, 

 slightly-made man, much given to singing, being normally drunk 

 from an excess of palm-wine. He was kindly, sociable laughed, 

 giggled and was amusing, but would not furnish food to the 

 starving travelers unless they would give him rum. Having no 

 rum, they were compelled to go hungry. 



From this point Stanley sent a letter, written in English, 

 French and Spanish, by three of his best men, to Embomma, 

 asking relief for his starving people. The men set out about 

 noon on August 4th, and reached the settlement the next d^y 

 after sundown. Here they were shown to the factory, or store, 

 of Messrs. Hatton & Cookson, an English firm, represented by 

 Mr. John W. Harrison, of Liverpool. That night an abundance 

 of provisions was prepared and packed, and early the next 

 morning Stanley's men were started on their return with full 

 stomachs and accompanied by a number of stout men carrying 

 everything that was needed. They met the starving expedition 

 late the next evening, after they had camped, and a lively scene 

 ensued, as preparations were begun for a royal supper. Relief 

 had come, and all were happy. 



On the 9th of August, 1877, the 999th day from the date of 

 his departure from Zanzibar, Stanley prepared to greet the van 

 of civilization, and was received by Mr. Harrison and the Fbrtu. 

 guese residents with great edat. They insisted upon carrying him 

 through the town in a swinging hammock, as a mark of special 

 honor, and afterward a grand banquet was provided for him. 



After enjoying the generous hospitality of these people for two 

 days, Stanley was ready to depart, but he first strolled down to 

 the river, on the banks of which Embomma is situated, to take a 

 farewell look at its broad and placid waters. " Glancing at the 

 mighty river on whose brown bosom we had endured so much," 



