778 LIFE OF DA YID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



muskets, with two hundred and thirty spearmen, and placed them in eighteen 

 canoes. About noon we set off, and, as Bambireh was eight miles distant, 

 we did not reach the island until two p.m. The natives of the place seemed 

 to know by instinct that this was to be a day of trouble, for every height 

 had its look-out ready, and when they saw the force I had brought with me, 

 no doubt many of them regretted that they had been so prone to attack 

 peaceable strangers. Through my field-glass I observed messengers running 

 fast to a plantain grove that stood on a low hill commanding a clear open 

 view of a little port at the southern end of the island, from which I concluded 

 that the main force of the savages was hidden behind the trees. Calling 

 the canoes together, I told the chiefs to follow my boat and steer exactly 

 as I did, and by no means to attempt to land, as I did not intend that a 

 single soul with me should be hurt. 



"I wished to punish Bambireh, not to weaken myself; besides, if a sub- 

 ject of Mtesa was lost, how should I present myself to him? Accordingly, I 

 rowed straight to the port, the canoes keeping up closely ; and we became 

 hidden from the view of those in the plantain grove and of all the look-outs ; 

 then, turning west, we skirted close to the land for a mile until we came to 

 a cape, after rounding which we arrived in view of a noble bay, into which 

 we steered. By this manoeuvre I managed to get behind the enemy, who 

 stood revealed in all his strength. Perceiving that the savages of Bambireh 

 were too strong for me to attack in the plantain grove, I made for the 

 opposite shore of the bay, where there were bare slopes, covered with short 

 green grass. The enemy, perceiving my intention to disembark, rose from 

 their coverts, and ran along the hills to meet us, which was precisely what I 

 wished they would do, and accordingly I ordered my force to paddle slowly, 

 so as to give them time. In half an hour the savages were all assembled in 

 knots and groups ; and after approaching within one hundred yards of the 

 beach I formed my line of battle, the American and English flags waving as 

 our ensigns. Having anchored each canoe so as to turn its broadside to the 

 shore, I ordered a volley to be fired at one group, which numbered about 

 fifty, and the result was several killed and many wounded. The savages, 

 perceiving our aim, and the danger of standing together, separated them- 

 selves, and advanced to the water's edge, slinging stones and shooting arrows. 

 I then ordered the canoes to advance within fifty yards of the shore, and to 

 fire at close quarters. 



" After an hour the savages saw that they could not defend themselves, 

 and retreated up the slope, where they continued still exposed to our bullets. 

 I then caused the canoes to come together, and told them to advance in a 

 body to the beach, as if about to disembark. This caused the enemy to 

 make an effort to repulse our landing, and, accordingly, hundreds came down 

 with their spears on the launch. When they were close enough, the bugle 



