432 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
the unusual scene. Some were very ungainly and elephan- 
tine in their movements, especially Muscati, the wife of 
the chief Safeni, but others were most graceful of body 
and lithe of limb, and raced with the swiftness of Atalanta. 
But the girl Khamisi of Zanzibar was declared the 
winner. 
A dance, by a hundred Wanyamwezi, adorned in all 
the feathered glory and terror of war, with sounding 
drums and melodious blasts from ivory horns, terminated 
the extraordinary festivities. 
On the 26th, Tippu-Tib gave a banquet of rice and 
roasted sheep to the Expedition, and malofu, or palm- 
wine, from Mpika Island, assisted to maintain the high 
spirits and sanguine prospects of success with which 
these cheery proceedings, festivities, and sports inspired 
us. 
The next day at dawn we embarked all the men, 
women, and children, 149 souls in all, and the riding- 
asses of the Expedition, and, telling Tippu-Tib we should 
on the morrow pull up stream and descend the river close 
to the village of Vinya-Njara for a last farewell, we 
pulled across to the islet near the bank, where we con- 
structed a rude camp for the only night we should 
remain. 
When I ascertained, after arrival, that every soul con- 
nected with the Expedition was present, my heart was 
filled with a sense of confidence and trust such as I had 
not enjoyed since leaving Zanzibar. 
In the evening, while sleep had fallen upon all save 
the watchful sentries in cliara:e of the boat and canoes. 
Frank and I spent a serious time. 
Frank was at heart as sammine as I that we should 
O 
finally emerge somewhere ; but, on account of the per- 
sistent course of the great river towards the north, a 
little uneasiness was evident in his remarks. 
“ Before we finally depart, sir,” said he, “ do you 
really believe, in your inmost soul, that we shall succeed ? 
I ask this because there are such odds against us — not 
that I for a moment think it would be best to return, 
having proceeded so far.” 
