un. It had brought on almost total blindness, and every
object before him appeared clouded by a misty veil.

They were now standing on the eastern horn of a large, crescent-shaped
mass of mountains, overhanging the northern half of the lake. These
mountains Speke supposed to be the true Mountains of the Moon.

Reaching the margin of the lake, a canoe was hired to carry them to
Ujiji, the chief place on its shores, frequented by Arabs. The lake at
which they now arrived was supposed to be three hundred and eighty miles
long, and thirty to forty broad. Its waters are sweet and abound with
fine fish. The sides of the lake are thickly inhabited by numerous
negro tribes, among whom are the Wabembe cannibals, into whose territory
the Arabs dare not venture.

The explorers took up their abode in the deserted house of an Arab
merchant, at a small village called Kawele; but, unfortunately, the
chief of the place, Kannina, was a tyrannical extortioner, and caused
them much trouble. They wished to engage an Arab dhow for navigating
the lake, sufficiently large to carry provisions and to resist hostile
attacks, but could only obtain a canoe. It was long and narrow,
hollowed-out of the trunk of a single tree. She carried Bombay,
Gaetano, two Belooch soldiers, and a captain, with twenty stark-naked
savage sailors. In this Speke set out on the 3rd of March, 1858, while
Burton, too sick to move, remained at Ujiji. Speke and his attendants
had moved but a short distance along the shore, when a storm came on,
and they had to camp till the afternoon of the 5th, when all got on
board.

To pack so many men together was no easy matter. Speke had his bedding
amidships, spread on reeds; the cook and bailsman sat facing him, and
Bombay and one Belooch behind him. Beyond them, in couples, were the
crew, the captain taking post in the bows. The seventeen paddles dashed
off with vigour. Steering southwards, they passed the mouth of the
Ruche river. They paddled on all night, and after dawn landed in a
secluded nook for breakfast. All were busily occupied. Gaetano dipped
his cooking-pot in the sea for water, greatly to the annoyance of the
natives, who declared that the dregs from it would excite the appetites
of the crocodiles, who would be sure to follow the boat. They have as
great an aversion to the crocodile as English seamen have to a shark.

Suddenly there was a cry that foes were coming. All, jumping up, rushed
to th