488 Wanderings in JE astern Africa, 
met, except to shed each other's blood, for more than 
ten years. No wonder then that they should pause. 
Gradually approaching each other, they at length 
stood face to face, at a distance apart of only some 
twenty yards. Both sides were well armed ; both 
were prepared for war if necessary ! It was a critical 
moment; an injudicious word uttered on either side 
might have led to blows, when, what a scene of carn- 
age might have ensued ! Both parties knelt upon the 
ground, grasping their arms more firmly, and looking 
at each other as if they knew not what to do. The 
Arabs paced up and down between them in the 
utmost state of excitement, calling frantically upon 
Allah and Muhammad, greatly afraid that something 
dreadful would happen, but utterly at a loss how to 
act. They looked to me imploringly, as if they 
wished me to take the initiative ; so, approaching the 
Warabai, I made a speech which broke the ice. Other 
speeches followed on both sides. Then two of the 
elders, one from each side, coming to the centre and 
shaking hands, the whole of the two parties sprang to 
their feet, rushed together, grasped each other s hands, 
called each other fathers and sons, friends and brothers, 
laughing and crying almost in a breath, and inviting 
each other home. Many of the Wageriama supped 
with the Warabai, and vice versa, while I returned to 
the Mission Station, thanking God that almost my 
last act in Africa should have been that of uniting in 
amity two tribes who had so long sought as their 
chief gratification to imbrue their hands in each 
other s blood. 
" Glory to God in the highest, and on earth 
peace and good v^ill toward men." 
