ESCAPE FROM BAMBIREH. 767 



lake, the impetus they had given it causing it to drag them all into deep 

 water. In the meantime the savages, uttering a furious howl of disappoint- 

 ment and baffled rage, came rushing like a whirlwind towards their canoes 

 at the water's edge. I discharged my elephant rifle, with its two large conical 

 balls, into their midst; and then assisting one of the crew into the boat, told 

 him to help his fellows in while I continued to fight. My double-barrelled 

 shot gun, loaded with buckshot, was next discharged with terrible effect, for, 

 without drawing a single bow or launching a single spear, they fell back up the 

 slope of the hill, leaving us to exert our wits to get ourselves out of the cove 

 before the enemy should decide to man their canoes. My crew was composed 

 of picked men, and in this dire emergency they did ample justice to my choice. 

 Though we were without oars, they were at no loss for a substitute. As soon 

 as they found themselves in the boat they tore up the seats and footboards, 

 and began to paddle, while I was left to single out with my rifles the most 

 prominent and boldest of the enemy. 



"Twice in succession I succeeded in dropping men determined on 

 launching the canoes, and seeing the sub-chief, who had commanded the 

 party that took the drum, I took deliberate aim with my rifle at him. That 

 bullet, as I have been told, killed the chief and two others who happened to 

 be standing a few paces behind him ; and the extraordinary result had more 

 effect, I think, on the susperstitious minds of the natives than all previous or 

 subsequent shots. On getting out of the cove we saw two canoes loaded 

 with men coming out in pursuit from another small inlet. I permitted them 

 to approach within one hundred yards of us, and this time I used the ele- 

 phant rifle with explosive balls. Four shots killed five men and sank the 

 canoes. This decisive affair disheartened the enemy, and we were left to 

 pursue our way unmolested, not however, without hearing a ringing voice 

 shouting out to us, ' Go, and die in the Nyanza.' When the savages counted 

 their losses, they found fourteen dead and wounded with ball and buckshot, 

 which, although I should consider to be very dear payment for the robbery 

 of eight ash oars and a drum, was barely equivalent, in fair estimation, to 

 the intended massacre of ourselves. Favoured by a slight breeze from the 

 laud, we hoisted our sail, and by night were eight miles south-east of Bam- 

 bireh. A little after dusk a calm came on, and we continued on our course 

 paddling. All night I kept the men hard at work, making, however, but 

 little progress through the water. 



" At sunrise we were about twenty miles south-east of Bambireh, and 

 by noon were about twenty-five miles off. At this time we got a strong wind 

 from the north-west, and sped before it at the rate of five knots an hour. At 

 sunset we were about twelve miles north-east of Sosua or Gosua Island ; and 

 if the breeze continued favourable, we hoped to be able to make a haven 

 some time before midnight. But about eight p.m. it rose to a fierce gale, and, 



