CHAP. X.] 
INTERVIEW WITH KAMRASL 
311 
curing porters had necessitated the abandonment of 
others that had been intended for him. 
I ordered the men to unpack the Persian carpet, 
which was spread upon the ground before him. I then 
gave him an Abbia (large white Cashmere mantle), a 
red silk netted sash, a pair of scarlet Turkish shoes, 
several pairs of socks, a double-barrelled gun and 
ammunition, and a great heap of first-class beads 
made up into gorgeous necklaces and girdles. He 
took very little notice of the presents, but requested 
that the gun might be fired off. This was done, to the 
utter confusion of the crowd, who rushed away in such 
haste, that they tumbled over each other like so many 
rabbits ; this delighted the king, who, although himself 
startled, now roared with laughter. He told me that 
I must be hungry and thirsty, therefore he hoped I 
would accept something to eat and drink : accordingly 
he presented me with seventeen cows, twenty pots of 
sour plantain cider, and many loads of unripe plan¬ 
tains. I inquired whether Speke had left a medicine- 
chest with him. He replied that it was a very feverish 
country, and that he and his people had used all the 
medicine. Thus my last hope of quinine was cut off. 
I had always trusted to obtain a supply from the king, 
as Speke had told me that he had left a bottle with 
him. It was quite impossible to obtain any informa¬ 
tion from him, and I was carried back to my hut, 
where I found Mrs. Baker lying down with fever, and 
neither could render assistance to the other. 
On the following morning the king again appeared. 
I was better, and I had a long interview. He did not 
appear to heed my questions, but he at once requested 
that I would ally myself with him, and attack his 
enemy, Rionga. I told him that I could not embroil 
myself in such quarrels, but that I had only one 
object, which was the lake ; I requested that he would 
give Ibrahim a large quantity of ivory, and that on 
his return from Gondokoro he would bring him most 
valuable articles in exchange. He said that he was 
