226 Seven Years in Central Africa. [Dec. 
shelves were made to receive what goods these friends might 
bring, in order to place them above the reach of the» white 
ants. To obtain the wood we had to make excursions to 
the forest. The legs of a round table I had been making 
were already in the rough, and these I had to dress down 
and fit together. 
While busy with my preparations, tidings came of the near 
approach of the white men, so leaving everything in the hands of 
my boys I started off to meet them, going along the usual caravan 
road. After proceeding for some distance without hearing from 
the natives any report of their advance, I became concerned, 
but thought that possibly they might have taken the by-way over 
the hills, and therefore returned to my cottage to await their 
arrival. At such a time it was impossible to do nothing, so I 
began to rig up a flagstaff. With a long bamboo rod bound 
to my hammock pole, I made an awkward-looking flagstaff, which 
I fastened to my pigeon-house, and a tattered Union Jack was 
got ready for hoisting. 
December i6th. — The first signal I had of the arrival of the 
strangers was the firing of three pistol shots in the distance. 
Running out of the door, I tried to hoist my Union Jack, but 
the line had got thick and twisted with the heavy rains, so I only 
succeeded in getting the flag half way up. Starting down the 
hill as quickly as possible, I met Mr. Swan some little distance 
from my house. From letters forwarded from the Lualaba I 
knew his name, and his object in coming, so we rejoiced to meet 
as brethren. His companion, Mr. Faulknor, remained with the 
caravan, expecting to follow in a couple of days, and Dick and 
Susi at once started with a hammock to help him on. On his 
arrival with the caravan, we were able to rejoice and thank God 
together for His mercy to us. 
After storing away the goods, we sought to make the fifty 
sturdy carriers as comfortable as possible. Msidi sent up many 
presents of food, etc., for them, and after a few days, during 
which he was much occupied with state matters, he appointed a 
day for th'e reception of the two white strangers. It may be well 
for me to give Mr. Swan's description of this, and the notes he 
made during the first few weeks of his stay. 
