274 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
the opposite bank. Then a canoe was manned and 
pushed into the water, but after approaching to within 
fifty paces of our party it lay to. 
Persecution and experience had made the people of 
Wanki cautious, and they now ordered my men to 
stand back, whilst I had to go to the edge of the water 
and strip to the waist, to prove it was not only my 
face which was white, but that I was a true European. 
I did as they wished, and their fears seemed allayed ; 
but they were still more satisfied when one of the 
Makalakas spoke to them in their own language. 
Henceforth all suspicion was at end; they landed; I 
gave them a few small presents for their chief, and 
begged them to bring me some sheep, goats, gourds, 
durra, and joalla beer. They promised to do so, and 
rowed back in a very contented humour. Wanki keeps 
large flocks of doves in his village, which I mention 
