722 LIFE OF DA V1D LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



denly attacked with a shower of large rocks, several of which struck the 

 boat ; but the helm being quickly put ' hard up,' we steered from shore to a 

 safer distance, but not before the foremost of the rascals had to be laid dead 

 by a shot from one of my revolvers. 



" After proceeding some miles we entered a channel between the islands 

 of Uvuma and Bugeyeya, but close to the shore of Uvuma. Here we dis- 

 covered a fleet of large canoes — thirteen in number — carrying over a hundred 

 warriors, armed with shields, spears, and slings. The foremost canoe con- 

 tained baskets of sweet potatoes, which the people held up, as if they were de- 

 sirous to trade. I ordered my party to cease rowing, and as there was but 

 a slight breeze, we still held on with the sail, and permitted the canoe to 

 approach. While we were bargaining for potatoes with this party, the canoes 

 came up and blocked the boat, while the people began to lay surreptitious 

 hands on everything; but we found their purpose out, and I warned the 

 robbers away with my gun. They jeered at this, and immediately seized 

 their spears and shields, while one canoe hastened away with some beads its 

 crew had stolen, and which a man insolently held up to my view, mockingly 

 inviting us to catch him. At the dangerous example of this I fired, and the 

 man fell dead in his place. The others prepared to launch their spears, but 

 the repeating rifle was too much for the crowd of so-called warriors, who had 

 hastened like pirates to pillage us. Three were shot dead, and as they 

 retreated my elephant rifle smashed their canoes, the results of which we saw 

 in the confusion attending each discharge. After a few rounds from the big 

 gun we continued on our way, still hugging the shore of Uvuma, for it was 

 unnecessary to fly after such an exhibition of inglorious conduct on the part of 

 thirteen canoes, containing in the aggregate over one hundred men. 



" In the evening we anchored in the channel between Uvuma and Usoga, 

 in E. long. 33° 40' 15" and N. lat. 0° 30' 9". Next morning the current per- 

 ceptibly growing stronger as we advanced north, we entered the Napoleon 

 Channel, which separates Usoga from Uganda, and then sailed across to the 

 Uganda shore. Having arrived close to the land, we took in all sail and 

 rowed towards the Ripon Falls, the noise of whose rushing waters sounded 

 loud and clear in our ears. The lake shoaled rapidly, and we halted to sur- 

 vey the scene at a spot half a mile from the first mass of foam caused by the 

 escaping waters. Speke has been most accurate in his description of the out- 

 flowing river, and his pencil has done fair justice to it. The scenery around, 

 on the Usoga and the Uganda side, has nothing indeed of the sublime about 

 it, but it is picturesque and well worth a visit. A few small islets dot the 

 channel and lie close ashore ; while at the entrance of the main channel, look- 

 ing south, the large islands of Uziri and Wanzi stretch obliquely, or south- 

 west towards Uvuma. But the eye of the observer is more fascinated by the 

 ranks of swelling foam and leaping waters than by the uneven contour of the 



