erd, and fired at the
largest. The animals began sniffing the air with uplifted trunks, when,
ascertaining by the smell of powder that their enemy was in front of
them, they rolled up their trunks, and came close to the spot where he
was lying under a mound. Suddenly they stopped, catching scent of the
white man, and lifting their heads high, looked down upon him. Speke
was now in a dangerous position, for, unable to get a proper front shot
at any of them, he expected to be picked up or trodden to death. As he
let fly at their temples, they turned round and went rushing away at a
much faster pace than they came. They, however, soon stopped, and began
to graze again. Though several were wounded, none were killed.

Bombay was now despatched to King Kamrasi, with a request from the
travellers for an early interview. Goats, flour, and plantains were
brought to them, and Kidjwiga became very indignant that the flour was
not all given to him, as he, having been appointed their guide and
protector, considered that it ought to have been.

At last they received an invitation from Kamrasi. As on a previous
occasion, only some dirty huts were offered to Speke. He insisted on
being lodged in the palace. Bombay, who had been kept there, now
arrived, and they were informed that better accommodation was preparing
for them. The king had been very communicative to Bombay.

The monarch, however, got tipsy, and was consequently unable to receive
his guests. Next day he sent some _pomba_, fowls, and plantains as a
present.

They were, however, after this still kept waiting several days. At last
Speke sent to say that if the king did not wish to see the white men,
they would proceed on their journey to Gani. This had the desired
effect; and, in their usual style, with the Union Jack floating above
their heads, they approached the palace.

They found the monarch seated on a wooden stool, with cow-skins below
and leopards' above, on an elevated platform of grass, looking like a
pope in state, calm and motionless. His arms were adorned with
brass-wire rings, and his hair was worked up into peppercorn-like knobs;
his eyes were of a long shape, his face narrow, and nose prominent; yet,
though a well-made man, being above six feet high, he was inferior in
size to Rumanika.

Speke endeavoured to impress on the stupid-headed king that his only
object was to open up a communication along the Nile, by which boats
could bring up