OFF TO PANGANI 



21 



the steamer ; then followed all the noise and confusion of 

 the start, and soon night fell, hiding the white houses of 

 Zanzibar from our sight ; a dazzling brightness from the light- 

 house flashed through the gloom, to disappear in its turn, 

 leaving us only the recollection of the friends we had left 

 behind us. 



After a very uncomfortable night on deck in pouring rain, 

 the new day dawned clear and bright, and the ' Star ' was 



EMBARKATION OF OUR MEN. 



ploughing along in the open sea, far away from the coast of 

 the mainland, which appeared as a thin blue streak only, none 

 of its features being recognisable. It was some time, too, 

 before the captain, a white-haired old Arab, took the bearings ; 

 but as soon as he had done so the vessel's head was turned 

 towards the coast, which we approached at full steam. As 

 yet we could see nothing of Pangani, for which we were bound, 

 but the change in the colour of the sea from a beautiful clear 



