AERIVAL AT GONDOKOEO. 
313 
traffic in slaves. The acquittal of Amabile^ the Maltese^ whom^ 
it may be remembered^ Petherick accused of participation in that 
trade — has weakened the authority of H.B.M. Consul,, and brought 
upon him hatred and contempt. Vengeance is vowed against 
Petherick, and they have sworn to shoot him. I was sadly troubled ; 
and, in addition to cares pressing heavily, a little cabin-boy of the 
Kathleen was shot when on board. A group of disorderly 
servants and other men, with menaces and shocking imprecations, 
kept up a discharge of musketry with ball cartridge, in the direction 
of our boat, from the shore. I was quite unnerved. 
February ^Zrd . — The travellers and Mr. Baker dined with us 
last evening ; but, from the conversation which ensued, a painful 
presentiment oppressed me that it was the intention of Mr. Baker 
to supplant Petherick^s expedition for the relief of the captains. 
March 27th . — My fears proved not groundless : Mr. Baker did 
offer his boats, stores, &c., to Speke, which were accepted in pre- 
ference to Petherick’s, and in his boats Speke and Grant sailed. 
At this time, 1869, arranging our journal for the press. I am 
conscious of the meagre account of our all-important meeting with 
the travellers — more of it in due course. For the time I can do 
no better than give Dr. Muriels letter to my brother-in-law, Mr. 
Me Quie, written at Gondokoro, and subsequently, on our return 
to England, given to us with other correspondence. 
