538 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
removed from the sick and grieving, and darkly dotted 
the vicinity of the tent ; the childless women were also- 
seen by twos and threes far apart, discussing, no doubt, 
our prospects, for at this period this was the most 
absorbing topic of the camp. 
Suddenly the shrill voice of a little boy was heard 
saying, “ Oh ! I see Uledi and Kacheche coming down 
the hill, and there are plenty of men following them ! ” 
“ What ! — -what !— what ! ” broke out eagerly from 
several voices, and dark forms were seen springing up 
from amongst the bleached grass, and from under the 
shade, and many eyes were directed at the whitened 
hill-slope. 
“ Yes ; it is true ! it is true ! La il Allah il Allah ! 
Yes ; el harnd ul Illali ! Yes, it is food ! food ! food at 
last ! Ah, that Uledi ! he is a lion, truly ! We are 
saved, thank God ! ” 
Before many minutes, Uledi and Kacheche were seen 
tearing through the grass, and approaching us with long 
springing strides, holding a letter up to announce to us 
that they had been successful. And the gallant fellows, 
hurrying up, soon placed it in my hands, and in the 
hearing of all who were gathered to hear the news, I 
translated the following letter : — 
“ Embomma, “ 6.30 A.M., 
“ English Factory. “ Boma, Q>th August , 18 77 . 
“ H. M. Stanley, Esq. 
“ Dear Sir 
“ Your welcome letter came to hand yester- 
day, at 7 p.m. As soon as its contents were understood, 
we immediately arranged to despatch to you such articles 
as you requested, as much as our stock on hand would 
permit, and other things that we deemed would be suit- 
able in that locality. You will see that we send fifty 
pieces of cloth, each twenty-four yards long, and some 
sacks containing sundries for yourself ; several sacks of 
rice, sweet potatoes, also a few bundles of fish, a bundle 
of tobacco, and one demijohn of rum. The carriers are 
all paid, so that you need not trouble yourself about 
