764 LIFE OF DA VII) LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



of danger, we prepared our guns to sweep the beach. So dense was the crowd 

 of armed men near the water line that we might have taken a fearful revenge 

 had we been vengefully disposed, or had the necessity of aiding the Waganda 

 compelled us to fire. Happily, however, our friends, not without loud remon- 

 strance and much wordy altercation, embarked in safety, and followed us to 

 Musira Island. Here the chief came, and learning our wants and our objects, 

 sent for three bunches of bananas, which he presented to us, and then left us 

 to our fate. 



" In the afternoon we sighted our Grand Admiral Magassa, with a large 

 fleet of canoes, paddling slowly to a neighbouring island, where he camped 

 for the night. Desirous of quickening his movements, I sailed from Musira 

 for Alice Island, distant thirty-five miles. The two chiefs of our escorting 

 canoes accompanied us a mile or two, and then, alarmed by the aspect of the 

 weather, turned back, shouting to us at the same time that as soon as the 

 wind moderated they would follow us. It was near midnight when we 

 arrived at Alice Island, and by steering for a light on shore we fortunately 

 found a snug, well-sheltered cove. The light we discovered was that of a fire 

 made by some Bambireh fishermen curing fish. Our men were so hungry 

 that they proposed to seize this food, to the great alarm and terror of its owners. 

 I restrained my people, and quieted the fears of the fishermen, by paying a 

 double price for a quantity of fish sufficient for a day's provisions for the 

 boat's crew. 



"When daylight came we found ourselves at the foot of a huge beet- 

 ling cliff, and discovered that we had taken shelter near a kind of penthouse 

 formed by overhanging rocks, which were now blackened with the smoke of 

 many fires. The natives of the island came down to visit us, holding out 

 wisps of green grass as a sign of peace and good-will But though they were 

 amicable enough, they were so extortionate in their demands that we gained 

 nothing by their friendship, and were compelled to depart at noon, with 

 every prospect of starvation before us, unless Bambireh (a large and popu. 

 lous island, south-west of Alice Island about twenty-five miles), to which I 

 determined to sail, should furnish us with food. 



"Amidst rain, thunder, lightning, and a sounding surf on all sides, we 

 dropped anchor under the lee of Barker's Island about midnight. It rained 

 and thundered throughout the night, and we had much trouble to keep our 

 boat afloat by constant baling. 



"At daybreak we hurried away from our dangerous anchorage before a 

 steady strong breeze from the north-east, and within three hours drew near 

 the comfortable little cove near the village of Kajuri, at the south-eastern 

 extremity of Bambireh Island. As we looked on the plenty which green 

 slopes, garnished with large groves of plantains and dotted with herds of fat 

 cattle, promised, we anticipated an abundance of good food, ripe bananas, a 



