292 Wanderings in Eastern Africa. 
what Mr. Rebmann predicted we should not meet 
with for some time — good, substantial, civilized fare. 
Conversation occupied Mr. Rebmann and myself ' 
far into the night. We had the mkugenzi in to 
discuss the question of the roads, but it was found 
that those which were travelled by Mr. Rebmann in 
1848 and 1849 were at this time ''kufa'' (dead). It 
remained for me, then, to select my own path. My 
wish was to take as northerly a route as possible on 
my way out ; and on my return to keep as far south as 
I could, so as to embrace the widest area without 
going beyond my means, or interfering with my 
main object. This general wish I left open, to be 
modified as circumstances might dictate. 
July 14. — Discovered this morning that some things 
of importance had been left behind at Ribe, so a man 
was dispatched early to fetch them. In the meantime, 
a couple of Ribe people had made their way over 
to Rabai with what they thought to be some forgotten 
articles ; one of which was half a Dutch cheese, 
which I had purposely left behind, but took with me 
now, and which many times afterwards stood me in 
good turn. 
To suit the convenience of the wapagazi (porters), 
I unpacked and repacked several of the loads before 
breakfast, and also served out ammunition to the men. 
Though a missionary, I had not thought it prudent to 
venture on such a journey as that which I was now 
undertaking without arms ; yet, I confess, when I 
think of our party as an armed one, novice as I am in 
these matters, I cannot help a smile. " There is but 
a step from the sublime to the ridiculous," and we 
certainly did not rise to the sublime ! Seven of 
