THE AUTHOR'S OBLIGATIONS. 717 



fortably in this commodious launch along the river of Kilimane, 

 we reached that village (latitude 17° 53' 8" S., longitude 36° 

 40' E.) on the 20th of May, 1856, which wanted only a few days 

 of being four years since I started from Cape Town. Here I 

 was received into the house of Colonel Galdino Jose Nunes, one 

 of the best men in the country. I had been three years without 

 hearing from my family; letters having frequently been sent, 

 but somehow or other, with but a single exception, they never 

 reached me. I received, however, a letter from Admiral Trot- 

 ter, conveying information of their welfare, and some newspapers, 

 which were a treat indeed. Her majesty's brig the " Frolic" 

 had called to inquire for me in the November previous, and Cap- 

 tain Nolluth, of that ship, had most considerately left a case of 

 wine ; and his surgeon, Dr. James Walsh, divining what I should 

 need most, left an ounce of quinine. These gifts made my heart 

 overflow. I had not tasted any liquor whatever during the time 

 I had been in Africa ; but when reduced in Angola to extreme 

 weakness, I found much benefit from a little wine, and took 

 from Loanda one bottle of brandy in my medicine chest, intend- 

 ing to use it if it were again required ; but the boy who car- 

 ried it whirled the box upside down, and smashed the bottle, so 

 I can not give my testimony either in favor of or against the 

 brandy. 



But my joy on reaching the east coast was sadly imbittered 

 by the news that Commander MacLune, of H. M. brigantine 

 "Dart," on coming in to Kilimane to pick me up, had, with 

 Lieutenant WoodrafTe and five men, been lost on the bar. I 

 never felt more poignant sorrow. It seemed as if it would have 

 been easier for me to have died for them, than that they should 

 all be cut off from the joys of life in generously attempting to 

 render me a service. I would here acknowledge my deep obli- 

 gations to the Earl of Clarendon, to the admiral at the Cape, 

 and others, for the kind interest they manifested in my safety; 

 even the inquiries made were very much to my advantage. I 

 also refer with feelings of gratitude to the Governor of Mozam- 

 bique for offering me a passage in the schooner " Zambesi," 

 belonging to that province ; and I shall never forget the gener- 

 ous hospitality of Colonel Nunes and his nephew, with whom 

 I remained. One of the discoveries I have made is that there 



