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ALONG LAKE EUDOLF 



camp. They paused every now and then, but evident!}^ not 

 from nervousness, for they allowed the women laden with food 

 to approach a good bit nearer to us. We gazed at the dark, 

 supple forms with eager curiosity, but drew back when the 

 first group squatted down at a distance of some 200 paces 

 from the camp, lest the sight of our white faces should upset 

 the negotiations. Jumbe Kimemeta, Qualla, Lembasso, and 

 a few of the men went forward, and a shauri began, the upshot 

 of which was that the natives said, ' We are glad that you 



ARRIVAL AMONGST THE EESHIAT. 



are come to us, we will remain your friends, and the only 

 struggle shall be between your beautiful goods and our pro- 

 ducts. And in this you will get the worst of it, for our 

 food supplies are inexhaustible.' With beaming face Qualla 

 came back with this message. The whole tone of the shauri 

 must have been most cordial, for he could not sufficiently 

 express his wondering admiration of these Washenzi, as he 

 called them. 



Qualla was now told to go back to the natives, who did not 



