Chap. XXXII. THE AUTHOR'S OBLIGATIONS. 425 



affects the river of Kilimane. At In terra we met Senhor 

 Asevedo, who, perceiving that I was suffering from a very- 

 severe attack of fever, immediately placed at my disposal his 

 large sailing launch, which had a house in the stern. This 

 was greatly in my favour, for it anchored in the middle of the 

 stream, and gave me some rest from the mosquitoes, which 

 in the whole of the delta are something frightful. Sailing 

 comfortably in this commodious launch along the river of 

 Kilimane, we reached that village on the 20th of May, 1866, 

 being very nearly four years since I started from Cape Town. 

 Here I was received into the house of Colonel Xunes, one of 

 the best men in the country. 1 had been three years without 

 hearing from my family, the letters sent having, with one 

 exception, all failed to reach me. 1 received, however, a 

 letter from Admiral Trotter, conveying information of their 

 welfare, and some newspapers, which were a treat indeed. 

 Her Majesty's brig " Frolic " had called to inquire for me in 

 the November previous, and Captain Xolloth of that ship had 

 most considerately left a case of wine, and his surgeon. Dr. 

 Jas. Walsh, an ounce of quinine — both of them most accept- 

 able presents. But my joy on reaching the east coast was 

 sadly embittered by the news that Commander MacLune. of 

 H. M. brigantine " Dart," on coming in to Kilimane to pick 

 me up, had, with Lieutenant Woodruffe 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. 



Eight of my men begged to be allowed to come as far as 

 Kilimane, and, thinking that they would there see the ocean, 

 I consented to their coming, though food was so scarce that 

 they were compelled to suffer some hunger. They would fain 

 have come further ; for when Sekeletu parted with them, his 

 orders were that none of them should turn until they had 

 brought Ma Robert back with them. On my explaining the 

 difficulty of crossing the sea, he said, " Wherever you lead, 

 they must follow." As I did n>t well know how I should get 

 home myself, I advised them to go back to Tete. where food 

 was abundant, and there await my return. I bought a quantity 

 of calico and brass wire with ten of the smaller tusks which 



