CHAP. XI.] 
KAMRASPS PROPOSAL . 
319 
the lake close to the spot where the Somerset entered, 
and that the canoes should take me down the river, 
and porters should carry my effects from the nearest 
point to Shooa, and deliver me at my old station 
without delay. Should he be faithful to this engage- 
ment, I trusted to procure porters from Shooa, and to 
reach Gondokoro in time for the annual boats. I had 
arranged that a boat should be sent from Khartoum 
to await me at Gondokoro early in this year, 1864 ; 
but I felt sure that should I be long delayed, the boat 
would return without me, as the people would be afraid 
to remain alone at Gondokoro after the other boats had 
quitted. 
In our present weak state another year of Central 
Africa without quinine appeared to warrant death; it 
was a race against time, all was untrodden ground 
before us, and the distance quite uncertain. I trembled 
for my wife, and weighed the risk of another year in 
this horrible country should we lose the boats. With 
the self-sacrificing devotion that she had shown in 
every trial, she implored me not to think of any risks 
on her account, but to push forward and discover the 
lake—that she had determined not to return until she 
had herself reached the “ MVootan ISPzige.” 
I now requested Kamrasi to allow us to take leave, 
as we had not an hour to lose. In the coolest manner 
he replied, “ I will send you to the lake and to Shooa, 
as I have promised; but, you must leave your wife 
with me! ” 
At that moment we were surrounded by a great 
number of natives, and my suspicions of treachery at 
having been led across the Kafoor river appeared con¬ 
firmed by this insolent demand. If this were to be the 
end of the expedition I resolved that it should also be 
the end of Kamrasi, and, drawing my revolver quietly, 
I held it within two feet of his chest, and looking at 
him with undisguised contempt, I told him, that if I 
touched the trigger, not all his men could save him : 
and that if he dared to repeat the insult I would shoot 
