1807.] THE MEDICINE-CHEST IS STOLEN. 177 



or four tin canisters containing some calomel, Dover's 

 powder, colocynth, and, above all, a supply of quinine, can 

 be distributed in different packages, and then, if a mishap 

 occurs similar to that which Livingstone relates, the disaster 

 is not beyond remedy.] 



20th January. — A guide refused, so we marched without 

 one. The two Waiyau, who joined us at Kande's village, 

 now deserted. They had been very faithful all the way, 

 and took our part in every case. Knowing the language 

 well, they were extremely useful, and no one thought 

 that they would desert, for they were free men — their 

 masters had been killed by the Mazitu — and this circum- 

 stance, and their uniform good conduct, made us trust them 

 more than we should have done any others who had been 

 slaves. But they left us in the forest, and heavy rain 

 came on, which obliterated every vestige of their footsteps. 

 To make the loss the more galling, they took what we could 

 least spare — the medicine-box, which they would only throw 

 away as soon as they came to examine their booty. One 

 of these deserters exchanged his load that morning with 

 a boy called Baraka, who had charge of the medicine-box, 

 because he was so careful. This was done, because with the 

 medicine-chest were packed five large cloths and all Baraka 's 

 clothing and beads, of which he was very careful. The 

 Waiyau also offered to carry this burden a stage to help 

 Baraka, while he gave his own load, in which there was 

 no cloth, in exchange. The forest was so dense and high, 

 there was no chance of getting a glimpse of the fugitives, 

 who took all the dishes, a large box of powder, the flour we 

 had purchased dearly to help us as far as the Chambeze, 

 the tools, two guns, and a cartridge-pouch ; but the medi- 

 cine-chest was the sorest loss of all ! I felt as if I had 

 now received the sentence of death, like poor Bishop 

 Mackenzie. 



vol. i. N 



