Chap. XI. UNPROVOKED HOSTILITY. 305 



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 boat 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. 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 excitement, they rushed into the water, 

 and danced in our rear, with drawn bows, taking aim, and 

 making various savage gesticulations. Their leader urged 

 them to get behind some snags, and then shoot at us. 

 The party on the bank in front had many muskets — and 

 those of them, who had bows, held them with arrows 

 ready set in the bowstrings. They had a mass of thick 

 bush and trees behind them, into which they could in a 

 moment dart, after discharging their muskets and arrows, 

 and be completely hidden from our sight ; a circumstance 



