334 



THE CRUISE SOUTHWARD. 



On Eebmaiy 10, 1859, we set sail in the 

 shabbiest of Batelas with a cabin like a large 

 drawer, hot as a native lint, and fnll of vermin. 

 The skipper had neglected to lay in wood and 

 ballast, we heeled over unpleasantly, and the 

 drinking water stood in an open cask, no joke, 

 considering that the action of a special infectant 

 was to be feared, and that the germs of cholera 

 poison are so easily conveyed in liquids and in 

 dust. Two of the ' sons of water ' at once died 

 of the disease, two others were taken ill, and 

 Caetano appeared to be sickening. The latter 

 recovered, but after three days our crew of seven 

 was reduced to three, including one, Tauflki, who 

 survived the attack, and who regained health at 

 Kilwa. We could do nothing but bury the un- 

 fortunates, so sudden and foudroyant were the at- 

 tacks, and the scanty personnel was not good for 

 much amongst bad reefs. 



Our course lay past the settlements of Msa- 

 sani and Magogoni and tlie little Mbwezi river 

 to Mbuamfiji, ' rain water,' in the Mission map 

 called Mburomaji, and vulgarly Boromaji. The 

 little port- village with jungle rolling up to the 

 walls, and anchorage defended by the Sinda 

 Islets, is a favourite entrance to the East African 

 interior. South of this point the coast people 



