CHAP. X.] 
DIFFICULTIES AT THE RIVER. 
291 
height after me, to shout to the people that an English 
lady, my wife, had also arrived, and that we wished 
immediately to be presented to the king and his 
family, as we had come to thank him for .his kind 
treatment of Speke and Grant, who had arrived safe 
in their own country.” Upon this being explained 
and repeated several times, the canoe approached the 
shore. 
I ordered all our people to retire, and to conceal 
themselves among the plantains, that the natives might 
not be startled by so imposing a force, while Mrs. Baker 
and I advanced alone to meet Kamrasi’s people, who 
were men of some importance. Upon landing through 
the high reeds, they immediately recognised the simi¬ 
larity of my beard and general complexion to that of 
Speke; and their welcome was at once displayed by 
the most extravagant dancing and gesticulating with 
lances and shields, as though intending to attack, 
rushing at me with the points of their lances thrust 
close to my face, and shouting and singing in great 
excitement. 
I made each of them a present of a bead necklace, 
and explained to them my wish that there should be 
no delay in my presentation to Kamrasi, as Speke had 
complained that he had been kept waiting fifteen days 
. before the king had condescended to see him; that, if 
this occurred, no Englishman would ever visit him, as 
such a reception would be considered an insult. 
The headman replied that he felt sure I was not an 
impostor; but, that very shortly after the departure of 
Speke and Grant in the previous year, a number of 
people had arrived in their name, introducing them¬ 
selves as their greatest friends: they had been ferried 
across the river, and well received by Kamrasi’s orders, 
and had been presented with ivory, slaves, and leopard 
skins, as tokens of friendship; but they had departed, 
and suddenly returned with Bionga s people, and had 
attacked the village in which they had been so well 
received; and upon the country being assembled to 
-U 2 
