chap. x.j KAMRASI SUSPECTS TREACHERY. 30? 
and retreated to the other side of a river, from which 
point he sends false messages to delay our advance as 
much as possible. There is a total absence of dignity 
in his behaviour; no great man is sent to parley, but 
the king receives contradictory reports from the many- 
tongued natives that have utterly perplexed him. He 
is told by some that we are the same people that came 
with Ras-Galla (Debono's captain), and he has neither 
the courage to repel or to receive us. Our force of 112 
armed men could eat the country in the event of a 
fight, provided that a large supply of ammunition were 
at hand. The present store is sixty rounds for each 
man, which would not be sufficient/' 
“ Feb. 9 th .—After endless discussions and repeated 
messages exchanged with the king, he at length sent 
word that I was to come alone. To this I objected; 
and, upon my starting with my men, the guide refused 
to proceed. I at once turned back, and told the chief 
(our guide) that I no longer wished to see Kamrasi, 
who must be a mere fool, and I should return to my 
country. This created a great stir, and messengers 
were at once despatched to the king, who returned an 
answer that I might bring all my men, but that only 
five of the Turks could be allowed with Ibrahim. The 
woman Bacheeta had told the natives that we were 
separate parties. 
“ A severe attack of fever prevented me from starting. 
This terrible complaint worries me sadly, as I have no 
quinine/' 
u Feb. 19 th .—The woman Fadeela died of fever. I 
am rather better, and the chief is already here to 
escort us to Kamrasi. After a quick march of three 
hours through immense woods, we reached the capital— 
a large village of grass huts, situated on a barren slope. 
We were ferried across a river in large canoes, capable 
of carrying fifty men, but formed of a single tree up¬ 
wards of four feet wide. Kamrasi was reported to be 
in his residence on the opposite side; but, upon our 
arrival at the south bank, we found ourselves thoroughly 
x 2 
