UGANDA AND WEST SIDE OF VICTORIA NYANZA. 271 
Some of the natives made a rush for this, but my guns 
commanded the exposed position, and they were obliged 
to retire. 
The crew seized their rifles, but I told them to leave 
them alone, and to tear the bottom-boards out of the 
boat and use them as paddles ; for there were two 
hippopotami advancing upon us open-mouthed, and it 
seemed as if we were to be crushed in the water after 
such a narrow escape from the ferocious people ashore. 
I permitted one of the hippos to approach within ten 
yards, and, aiming between his eyes, perforated his 
skull with a three-ounce ball, and the second received 
such a wound that we were not molested by him. 
Meanwhile the savages, baffled and furious at seeing 
their prey escape, had rushed, after a short consultation, 
to man two canoes that were drawn up on the beach at 
the north-west corner of the cove. Twice 1 dropped 
men as they endeavoured to launch the boats ; but 
they persisted, and finally, launching them pursued us 
vigorously. Two other canoes were seen coming down 
the coast from the eastern side of the island. 
Unable to escape, we stopped after we had got out of 
the cove, and waited for them. 
My elephant rifle was loaded with explosive balls for 
this occasion. Four shots killed five men and sank two 
of the canoes. The two others retired to assist their 
friends out of the water. They attempted nothing 
further, but some of those on shore had managed to 
reach the point, and as we resumed our paddles, we 
heard a voice cry out, “ Go and die in the Nyanza ! ” 
and saw them shoot their arrows, which fell harmlessly 
a few yards behind us. We were saved ! 
It was 5 p.m. We had only four bananas in the 
boat, and we were twelve hungry men. If we had a 
strong fair breeze, a day and a night would suffice to 
enable us to reach our camp. But if we had head- 
winds, the journey might occupy a month. Meanwhile, 
after the experience of Makongo, Alice Island, and 
Bumbireh, where should we apply for food ? Fresh 
water we had in abundance, sufficient to satisfy the 
