Chapter VI. 



pnifouiidlv CDiiviuced that to go towards tlie Congo was 

 equivalent to going to meet certain death. It was only too 

 natural that, with these feelings, they sliouhl show extreme 

 reluctance to following the Prince west\\ard. 



On the morning of the 15th June, there were only nine 

 Bakonjo at Bujongolo, hardly a .sutHcient numher, with the 

 addition of the four guides and Botta, to carry the kit of 

 the Dnke, now reduced to absolute necessities and rations for 

 a few (lavs. At the last moment the natives put forward a 

 claim to being paid every day, and the Duke of the Ahruzzi 

 was obliged to load himself with a not inconsiderable weight 

 of rupees. 



Finally, about eight o'clock, as no other excuse for fresh 

 delay was available, they stai'ted from camp in brilliant sun- 

 shine. First they went up the little valley which, as we saw, 

 opens on the right-hand side of the Mobuku, near to 

 Bujongolo. They followed the line of the small torrent, 

 crossing from one bank to the other, and so reached the 

 top of the spin-, and came into a valley formed by a 

 torrent fed from the southern glaciers of Kiyanja. This is 

 the same torrent which forms the picturesque waterfall on 

 the right slope of the plain of Buamba. Close to the liead 

 of the little valley are tA\o projectmg rocks fornnng natTU'al 

 shelters, similar to those of Kichuchu and Buamba. 



The ground was drenched witli the rain which had fallen 

 during the preceding days, and after an hour's niarcli everyone 

 was wet to the skin, and covered with mud. The marcli was 

 tiring, because at every few steps you slipped or sank into tlie 

 mud. The porters were susj)icious of the unknown country 

 towards which their steps were directed, .■ind proceeded 

 miwillingly, with exaspei'ating slowness. They had stopped 



16G 



