CHAP. XI.] 
A DISAGREEABLE ESCORT. 
323 
floating like a buoy upon the surface; after a thorough 
sousing, the guide reappeared, and scrambled out, and 
we made a circuit, the men toiling frequently up to 
their necks through mud and water. On arrival at the 
opposite side we continued through the same beautiful 
forest, and slept that night at a deserted village,, 
M’Baze. I obtained two observations ; one of Capella, 
giving latitude N. 1° 24/ 47", and of Canopus 1° 23' 29 ,/ .. 
The next day we were much annoyed by our native 
escort; instead of attending to us, they employed 
their time in capering and dancing about, screaming,, 
and gesticulating, and suddenly rushing off in advance 
whenever we approached a village, which they plun¬ 
dered before we could arrive. In this manner every 
place was stripped ; nor could we procure anything to 
eat unless by purchasing it for beads from the native 
escort. We slept at Karche, N. latitude 1° 19' 31". 
We were both ill, but were obliged to ride through 
the hottest hours of the sun, as our followers were 
never ready to start at an early hour in the morning. 
The native escort were perfectly independent, and so 
utterly wild and savage in their manner, that they 
appeared more dangerous than the general inhabitants 
of the country. My wife was extremely anxious, since 
the occasion of Kamrasis “ proposal,” as *she was 
suspicious that so large an escort as three hundred 
men had been given for some treacherous purpose, and 
that I should perhaps be waylaid to enable them to 
steal her for the king. I had not the slightest fear of 
such an occurrence, as sentries were always on guard 
during the night, and I was well prepared during the 
day- 
On the following morning we had the usual diffi¬ 
culty in collecting porters, those of the preceding day 
having absconded, and' others were recruited from 
distant villages by the native escort, who enjoyed the 
excuse of hunting for porters, as it gave them an 
opportunity of foraging throughout the neighbourhood* 
During this time we had to wait until the sun was 
Y 2 
