312 EXCHANGE BLOOD AND BECOME FRIENDS, [chap. x. 
not sure whether “ my belly was black or white/'—by 
this he intended to express “ evil or good intentions 
but that if it were white I should of course have no 
objection to exchange blood with him, as a proof of 
friendship and sincerity. This was rather too strong a 
dose ! I replied that it would be impossible, as in my 
country the shedding of blood was considered a proof of 
hostility; therefore he must accept Ibrahim as my sub¬ 
stitute. Accordingly the arms were bared and pricked, 
as the blood flowed, it was licked by either party, 
and an alliance was concluded. Ibrahim agreed to 
act with him against all his enemies. It was arranged 
that Ibrahim now belonged to Kamrasi, and that 
henceforth our parties should be entirely separate. 
It rained in torrents, and our hut became so damp 
from the absorption of the marsh soil, that my feet 
sank in the muddy floor. I had fever daily at about 
3 p.m. and lay perfectly helpless for five or six hours, 
until the attack passed off; this reduced me to extreme 
weakness. My wife suffered quite as acutely. It was 
a position of abject misery, which will be better ex¬ 
plained by a few rough extracts from my journal:— 
“Feb. 1 €>th.—All my porters have deserted , having 
heard that the lake is so far distant; I have not one 
man left to carry my luggage. Should we not be able 
to cross the Asua river before the flood, we shall be 
nailed for another year to this abominable country, ill 
with fever, and without medicine, clothes, or supplies." 
“ Feb. 1 7th .—Fever last night; rain, as usual, with 
mud accompaniment. One of Kamrasi s headmen, 
whose tongue I have loosened by presents, tells me 
that he has been to the lake in ten days to purchase 
salt, and that a man loaded with salt can return in 
fifteen days. God knows the truth ! and I am pressed 
for time, while Kamrasi delays me in the most annoying 
manner. 
“ Kamrasi came to-day; as usual, he wanted all that 
I had, and insisted upon a present of my sword, watch, 
and compass, all of which I positively refused. I told 
