74 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



neck ornament, and tearing out the works of a gold 

 chronometer, made of it a tobacco-pouch. He has been 

 charged with imprudence in carrying too much luggage 

 — a batterie de dejeuner, a batterie de diner, and similar 

 superfluities. But he had acted rightly, when bound 

 upon a journey through countries where outfit cannot 

 be renewed, in providing himself with all the materials 

 for comfort. On such explorations a veteran traveller 

 would always attempt to carry with him as much, not 

 as little as possible, — of course prepared to abandon all 

 things, and to reduce himself, whenever the necessity 

 might occur, to the " simple besace du pelerine It is 

 easy to throw away a superfluity, and the best prepara- 

 tion for severe " roughing it," is to enjoy ease and 

 comfort whilst attainable. 



But M. Maizan fell upon evil times at Zanzibar. Dark 

 innuendos concerning French ambition — that nation 

 being even suspected of a desire to establish itself in 

 force at Lamu, Pangani, and other places on the coast 

 of East Africa — filled Hindu and Hindi with fear for 

 their profits. These men influenced the inhabitants of 

 the island and the sea-coast, who probably procured the 

 co-operation of their wild brethren in the interior. 

 For the purpose of learning the Kisawahili, M. Maizan 

 delayed nearly eight months at Zanzibar, and, seeing a 

 French vessel entering the harbour, he left the place 

 precipitately, fearing a recall. Vainly also M. Bro- 

 quant had warned him against his principal confidant, 

 a noted swindler, and Lieut. -Colonel Hamerton had 

 cautioned him to no purpose that his glittering instru- 

 ments and his numerous boxes, all of which would be 

 supposed to contain dollars, were dangerous. He 

 visited the coast thrice before finally landing, thus 

 giving the Wasawahili time and opportunity to mature 



