170 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
and our people of the other part. Seven or eight of 
our people had taken refuge behind the canoe, and had 
their loaded guns half pointing at the passionate mob, 
which was momentarily increasing in numbers, but 1 
could not see the Doctor anywhere. 
“ Where is the Doctor ? ” I asked. 
“ He has gone over that hill, sir, with his compass,” 
said Selim. 
“ Anybody with him ? ” 
“ Susi and Chumah.” 
“ You, Bombay, send two men off to warn the Doctor, 
and tell him to hurry up here.” 
But just at this period the Doctor and his two men 
appeared on the brow of the hill, looking down in a 
most complacent manner upon the serio-comic scene 
that the little basin wherein we were encamped pre- 
sented. For, indeed, despite the serious aspect of it, 
there was much that was comical blended with it — in 
a naked young man who — perfectly drunk, barely able 
to stand on his feet — was beating the ground with his 
only loin-cloth, screaming and storming away like a 
madman ; declaring by this, and by that, in his own 
choice language, that no Mgwana or Arab should halt 
one moment on the sacred soil of Usansi. His father, 
the Sultan, was as inebriated as himself, though not 
quite so violent in his behaviour. 
In the meantime the Doctor arrived upon the scene, 
and Selim had slipped my Winchester rifle, with the 
magazine full of cartridges, into my hand. The Doctor 
calmly asked what was the matter, and was answered by 
the Wajiji guides that the people wished us to leave, as 
they were on hostile terms with the Arabs, because the 
eldest son of the Sultan of Muzimu, the large island 
nearly opposite, had been beaten to death by a Baluch, 
named Khamis, at Ujiji, because the young fellow had 
dared look into his harem, and ever since peace had been 
broken between the Wasansi and Arabs. 
After consulting with the guides, the Doctor and I 
came to the conclusion that it were better that we should 
endeavour to pacify the Sultan by a present, rather than 
