398 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
also asked for canoes, and offered high prices for them, 
but Dugumbi would not be persuaded, as he declined to 
I >e held responsible by the British Consul at Zanzibar for 
any accident that might happen to him. Bombay, I 
believe, wished to go, but Bilal was resolute in his objec- 
tions to the river, and each night intrigued with the 
Arabs to prevent his master. When Cameron reached 
Imbarri at Kasongo’s, I offered to take him for a sum of 
money as far as the Sankuru river, provided he would 
give me a paper stating that I took him at his own 
request, and releasing me from all responsibility in the 
event of a conflict with the natives. He declined to go. 
I therefore, at his own request, supplied him with guides 
to take him to Juma Merikani, at Kasongo’s, in Rua, 
where he would meet Portuguese traders. I have re- 
ceived word from Juma Merikani that Cameron, after 
many months’ stay with him, went on his way, escorted 
by a large number of Portuguese traders, towards the 
western sea. That is all I know about it.” 
Out of this frank explanation, I had, therefore, elicited 
the information that want of canoes and hostility of 
the savages,” reluctance of the Arabs to permit him to 
proceed by the river from an officious regard for his 
safety and the “ cowardice of his followers,” were the 
main causes that prevented the gallant officer from 
following the river. 
These were difficulties for me also to surmount in some 
manner not yet intelligible. How was I to instil courage 
into my followers, or sustain it, to obtain the assistance 
of the Arabs to enable me to make a fair beginning, and 
afterwards to purchase or make canoes ? 
“ I suppose, Tippu-Tib,” I said, “ having offered the 
other white man your assistance, you would have no 
objection to offer it to me for the same sum % ” 
“ I don’t know about that,” he replied with a smile. 
“ I have not many people with me now. Many are at 
Imbarri, others are trading at Manyema.” 
“ How many men have you with you ? ” 
“ Perhaps three hundred — or say two hundred and 
fifty.” 
