291 
RESOLVE TO CROSS THE RIVER ALOXE. [chap, x, 
even then the natives would only approach sufficiently 
near to he heard, but nothing would induce them to 
land. They explained, that there was a division of 
opinion among the people on the other side; some 
were in favour of receiving us, hut the greater number 
were of opinion that we intended hostilities ; therefore 
we must wait until orders could be sent from the 
king. 
To assure the people of our peaceful intentions, I 
begged them to take Mrs. Baker and myself alone, 
and to leave the armed party on this side the river 
until a reply should be received from Kamrasi. At 
this suggestion the boat immediately returned to the 
other side. 
The day passed away, and as the sun set we per¬ 
ceived the canoe again paddling across the river : this 
time it approached direct, and the same people landed 
that had received the necklaces in the morning. They 
said that they had held a conference with the headman, 
and that they had agreed to receive my wife and 
myself, but no other person. I replied, that my 
servants must accompany us, as we were quite as great 
personages as Kamrasi, and could not possibly travel 
without attendants. To this they demurred; therefore 
I dropped the subject, and proposed to load the canoe 
with all the presents intended for Kamrasi. There 
was no objection to this, and I ordered Bicharn, Saat, 
and Ibrahim to get into the canoe to stow away the 
luggage as it should be handed to them, but on no 
account to leave the boat. I had already prepared 
everything in readiness, and a bundle of rifles tied up 
in a large blanket, and 500 rounds of ball cartridge, 
were unconsciously received on board as presents. I 
had instructed Ibrahim to accompany us as my servant, 
as he was better than most of the men in the event of 
a row; and I had given orders, that in case of a pre¬ 
concerted signal being given, the whole force should 
swim the river, supporting themselves and guns 
upon bundles of papyrus rush. The men thought us 
