tructed to supply them with food at the king's expense,
as there were no taxes gathered from strangers in the kingdom of
Karague.

The country was hilly, wild, and picturesque, the higher slopes dotted
with thick bushes of acacias, the haunts of the white and black
rhinoceros, while in the valley were large herds of harte-beestes. The
further they proceeded into the country, the better they liked it, as
the people were all kept in good order. A beautiful lake was seen,
which at first they supposed to be a portion of the Nyanza, but it
proved to be a separate lake, to which the name of Windermere was given.

They now attained the delightful altitude of five thousand odd feet, the
atmosphere at night feeling very cool. Away to the west some bold
sky-scraping cones were observed, and, on making enquiries, Speke was
convinced that those distant hills were the great turn-point of the
Central African water-shed. Numerous travellers, whom he collected
round him, gave him assistance in forming his map. He was surprised at
the amount of information about distant places which he was able to
obtain from these intelligent men.

As they approached the palace, the king, Rumanika, sent them a supply of
excellent tobacco and beer manufactured by his people. On drawing near
his abode, the bearers were ordered to put down their loads and fire a
salute, and the two travellers at once received an invitation to visit
the king. He was found sitting cross-legged with his brother Nnanaji,
both men of noble appearance and size. The king was plainly dressed in
an Arab black _choba_; he wore on his legs numerous rings of rich
coloured beads, and neatly-worked wristlets of copper. Nnanaji, being a
doctor of high credit, was covered with charms; he wore a checked cloth
wrapped round him. Large clay pipes were at their sides, ready for use.
In their rear sat the king's sons, as quiet as mice.

The king greeted them warmly and affectionately, and in an instant both
travellers felt that they were in the company of men who were totally
unlike the common order of the natives of the surrounding districts.
They had fine oval faces, large eyes, and high noses, denoting the best
blood of Abyssinia. They shook hands in the English style, the
ever-smiling king wishing to know what they thought of his country. He
observed that he considered his mountains the finest in the world: "And
the lake, too; did not they admire it?" He seemed a very inte