148 
TRAVELS m CENTRAL AFRICA. 
lowered^ and on it were suspended lanterns as beacon lights. When 
it was raised again^ prayers from all ascended for the safety of those 
absent ones. The doctors^ boat^ still in the distance with its consort 
sent lights up quickly ; and as firing was heard from them_, we ima- 
gined they might think we were in distress^ for our cannon still 
boomed^ and we could see from their approaching light that_, con- 
trary to custom at that hour^ they were towing. The felucca was 
dispatched to meet them, as there was a chance that the missing 
men might have gained these boats. 
Shortly after midnight the small boat was returning, and we 
could hear the gay song of the men ; and feeling that all was right, 
I left the deck, and ere my eyes were closed in sleep, the hunters 
were on board. They had, in pursuit of game, lost their way. 
When overtaken by the storm, they had made for the river, where 
they fell in with the doctor^s dahabyeh ; and knowing the anxiety 
their absence would cause, the crew willingly towed until the felucca 
was met. 
Thursday, 2dth . — A bright morning, and a light favourable breeze, 
so made a good start, not waiting for the chiefs who were yesterday 
expected. 
Had sailed but half an hour, when shouting from the west bank 
was heard> and Shotbyl with many negroes were seen gesticulating 
wildly. Sail was taken in, and the felucca was sent off to the shore, 
Shotbyl and another chief returning in her with a few negro attend- 
ants, one bearing a small elephant^ s tusk, as a present to Petherick 
from the chief Kon-dit. This man was very tall and thin. He wore 
a few beads and a panther^s skin, and was quite abject in his pro- 
strations, which is not usual with the negro chiefs. He is considered 
powerful, and rules over a large district called Fankong. A bullock 
