218 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
When about two miles from Usavara, we saw what 
we estimated to be thousands of people arranging them- 
selves in order on a gently rising ground. When about 
a mile from the shore, Magassa gave the order to signal 
our advance upon it with fire-arms, and was at once 
obeyed by his dozen musketeers. Half a mile off I saw 
that the people on the shore had formed themselves into 
two dense lines, at the ends of which stood several finely- 
dressed men, arrayed in crimson and black and snowy 
white. As we neared the beach, volleys of musketry 
burst out from the long lines. Magassa’s canoes steered 
outward to right and left, while 200 or 300 heavily 
loaded guns announced to all around that the white 
A FLOATING FOETLET. 
man — whom Mtesa’s mother had dreamed about — had 
landed. Numerous kettle and bass drums sounded a 
noisy welcome, and flags, banners, and bannerets waved, 
and the people gave a great shout. Very much amazed 
at all this ceremonious and pompous greeting, I strode 
up towards the great standard, near which stood a short 
young man, dressed in a crimson robe which covered 
an immaculately white dress of bleached cotton, before 
whom Magassa, who had hurried ashore, kneeled reve- 
rently, and turning to me begged me to understand that 
this short young man was the Katekiro. Not knowing- 
very well who the “ Katekiro ” was, I only bowed, which, 
strange to say, was imitated by him, only that his bow 
