320 
THE KILIMA-NJABO EXPEDITION. 
to him, and he gave me a capital dinner, told me all the 
news, and alleviated my disappointment. The doctor , 3 
who was dining with him, offered me a bed, and so 
I was spared the fleaey quarters of a Zanzibar hotel. 
The next day, whether it was the disappointment of 
missing Sir John Kirk, or the sudden change to the 
relaxing climate of Zanzibar, I fell ill with a feverish 
languor, and lost interest and appetite. I could not 
even stir myself to read my letters, except so far as 
to ascertain that there were no fresh funds forth¬ 
coming with which to continue the expedition. My 
collections were already packed, and I had nothing to 
do but to await the arrival of the homeward-bound 
steamer. Fortunately, in this despondent condition. 
Captain Dowding, of H.M.S. Osprey , then stationed at 
Zanzibar, ran across me and carried me off to his 
pretty ship. Here, in the soothing cleanliness and 
comfort of a man-of-war, I recovered my health and 
spirits, and waited resignedly the steamer’s coming. 
Sir John Kirk just returned in time to welcome me 
back and see me off, and then, regretfully, I put away 
Kilima-njaro, Taveita, Kitimbiriu from my memory, 
and tried to look forward with pleasure to a return to 
Europe. 
Our voyage from Zanzibar to Aden was a slow 
agony of nearly a fortnight’s duration. The monsoon 
was dead against us, and the ship was—well, not 
worthy of the company that owned her. The days 
dragged by like continual repetition of an uneasy 
dream. It was too rough to write, I had nothing to 
read, and even the last resource of the weary voyager 
:i Dr. Williams, the kindest of hosts and best of good fellows, who 
is since unhappily dead, to the universal regret of the English colony 
in Zanzibar. 
