CHAP. X.] 
KAMRASI MAKES A STATE VISIT. 
309 
only a few yards distant could not see the opposite side 
of the river owing to the high grass and reeds. With¬ 
out saying more, I merely begged him to mount upon 
the ant-hill and look towards M rooli. Hardly had 
he cast a glance at the scene described, than he jumped 
down from his stand, and cried, ‘ They are going to 
attack us ! J ‘ Let us retreat to the camp and prepare 
for a fight! ' 4 Let us fire at them from here as they 
cross in the canoes/ cried others; ‘ the buckshot will 
clear them off when packed in the boats/ This my 
panic-stricken followers would have done, had I not 
been present. 
“ ‘ Fools ! ' I said, ‘ do you not see that the natives have 
no shields with them, but merely lances ?—would they 
commence an attack without their shields ? Kamrasi 
is coming in state to visit us/ This idea was by no 
means accepted by my people, and we reached our little 
camp, and for the sake of precaution we stationed the 
men in positions behind a hedge of thorns. Ibrahim 
had managed to bring twelve picked men instead of 
five as stipulated; thus we were a party of twenty-four. 
I was of very little use, as the fever was so strong upon 
me that I lay helpless on the ground/' 
In a short time the canoes arrived, and for about an 
hour they were employed in crossing and re-crossing, 
and landing great numbers of men, until they at 
length advanced and took possession of some huts about 
200 yards from our camp. They now hallooed out 
that Kamrasi had arrived! and seeing some oxen 
with the party, I felt sure they had no evil intentions. 
I ordered my men to carry me in their arms to the 
king, and to accompany me with the presents, as I was 
determined to have a persona] interview, although only 
fit for a hospital. 
Upon my approach, the crowd gave way, and I was 
shortly laid on a mat at the king's feet. He was a 
fine-looking man, but with a peculiar expression of 
countenance owing to his extremely prominent eyes; 
he was about six feet high, beautifully clean, and was 
