Chap. XXL UNPROVOKED HOSTILITY. 435 



rary villages, we saw, in passing, two human heads lying 

 on the ground. We slept a couple of miles above this 

 village. 



Before sunrise next morning, a large party armed with 

 bows and arrows and muskets came to the camp, two or 

 three of them having a fowl each, which we refused to pur- 

 chase, having bought enough the day before. They followed 

 us all the morning, and after breakfast those on the left 

 bank swam across and joined the main party on the other 

 side. It was evidently their intention to attack us at a 

 chosen spot, where we had to pass close to a high bank, 

 but their plan was frustrated by a stiff breeze sweeping 

 the boats past, before the majority could get to the place. 

 They disappeared then, but came out again ahead of us, on a 

 high wooded bank, walking rapidly to the bend, near which 

 we were obliged to sail. An arrow was shot at the foremost 

 boat ; and seeing the force at the bend, we pushed out from 

 the side, as far as the shoal water would permit, and tried 

 to bring them to a parley, by declaring, that we had not come 

 to fight, but to see the river. " Why did you fire a gun, a 

 little while ago ? " they asked. " We shot a large puff-adder, 

 to prevent it from killing men ; you may see it lying dead on 

 the beach." With great courage, our Mokadamo waded to 

 within thirty yards of the bank, and spoke with much 

 earnestness, assuring them that we were a peaceable party, 

 and had not come for war, but to see the river. We were 

 friends, and our countrymen bought cotton and ivory, and 

 wished to come and trade with them. All we wanted was to 

 go up quietly to look at the river, and then return to the sea 

 again. While he was talking with those on the shore, the 

 old rogue, who appeared to be the ringleader, stole up the 

 bank, and with a dozen others, waded across to the island, near 

 which the boats lay, and came down behind us. Wild with 



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