CHAP. XIII.] WE ARE CARRIED TO THE KING'S CAMP. 3/9 
the reader, it will be sufficient to say that the country 
was the same as usual, being a vast park overgrown 
with immense grass. Every day the porters bolted, 
and we were left deserted at the charred ruins of 
various villages that had been plundered by Fowooka’s 
people. It poured with rain; there was no cover, as 
all the huts had been burnt, and we were stricken 
with severe fever daily. However, after five days of 
absurdly slow marching, the roar of the rapids being 
distinctly audible at night, we arrived one morning 
at a deserted camp of about 3,000 huts, which were 
just being ignited by several natives. This had been 
Kamrasi s head-quarters, which he had quitted, and 
according to native custom it was to be destroyed 
by fire. It was reported, that the king had removed 
to another position within an hours march, and that 
he had constructed a new camp. Although throughout 
the journey from Shooa Moru the country had been 
excessively wild and uncultivated, this neighbourhood 
was a mass of extensive plantain groves and burnt 
villages, but every plaintain-tree had been cut through 
the middle and recklessly destroyed. This destruction 
had been perpetrated by Fowookas people, who had 
invaded the country, but had retreated on the advance 
of Kamrasi’s army. 
After winding through dense jungles of bamboos 
and interminable groves of destroyed plantains, we 
perceived the tops of a number of grass huts appearing 
among the trees. My men now begged to be allowed 
to fire a salute, as it was reported that the ten men of 
Ibrahim’s party that had been left as hostages were 
quartered at this village with Kamrasi. Hardly had 
the firing commenced, when it was immediately replied 
to by the Turks from their camp, who, upon our 
approach, came out to meet us with great manifesta¬ 
tions of delight and wonder at our having accomplished 
our long and difficult voyage. 
My vakeel and Yaseen were the first to meet us, 
with an apology that severe fever had compelled them 
