Of his perambulations
deliberately slashed his leg with the sharp blade of his spear,
and then exclaimed that the Wangwana had wounded him!
At this cry one half of the mob hastily took to flight, but one
old woman, who carried a strong staff with a carved lizard's body
on its top, commenced to abuse the chief with all the power of her
voluble tongue, charging him with a desire to have them all killed,
and other women joined in with her in advising him to be quiet,
and accept the present we were willing to give.
But it is evident that there was little needed to cause all men
present in that little hollow to begin a most sanguinary strife.
The gentle, patient bearing of the Doctor had more effect than
anything else in making all forbear bloodshed, while there was
left the least chance of an amicable settlement, and in the end
it prevailed. The Sultan and his son were both sent on their way
rejoicing.
While the Doctor conversed with them, and endeavoured to calm their
fierce passions, I had the tent struck, and the canoes launched,
and the baggage stowed, and when the negotiations had concluded
amicably, I begged the Doctor to jump into the boat, as this
apparent peace was simply a lull before a storm; besides, said I,
there are two or three cowardly creatures in the boat, who, in
case of another disturbance, would not scruple to leave both of us
here.
From Cape Luvumba, about 4.30 P.M. we commenced pulling across;
at 8 P.M. we were abreast of Cape Panza, the northern extremity
of the island of Muzimu; at 6 A.M. we were southward of Bikari,
and pulling for Mukungu, in Urundi, at which place we arrived at
10 A.M., having been seventeen hours and a half in crossing the
lake, which, computing at two miles an hour, may be said to be
thirty-five miles direct breadth, and a little more than
forty-three miles from Cape Luvumba.
On the 11th of December, after seven hours' pulling, we arrived at
picturesque Zassi again; on the 12th, at the pretty cove of Niasanga;
and at 11 A.M. we had rounded past Bangwe, and Ujiji was before us.
We entered the port very quietly, without the usual firing of
guns, as we were short of powder and ball. As we landed, our
soldiers and the Arab magnates came to the water's edge to greet
us.
Mabruki had a rich budget to relate to us, of what had occurred
during our absence. This faithful man, left behind in charge of
Livingstone's house, had done most excellently. Kalulu had scalded
himself, and had a frightful raw sore on his chest in consequence.
Mabruki had locked up Marora in chains for wounding one of the
asses. Bilali, the stuttering coward, a bully of women, had
caused a tumult in the market-place, and had been sharply
belaboured with the stick by Mabruki. And, above all most
welcome, was a letter I received from the American Consul at
Zanzibar, dated June 11th, containing telegrams from Paris as late
as April 22nd of the same year! Poor Livingstone exclaimed, "And
I have none. What a pleasant thing it is to have a real and good
friend!"
Our voyage on the Tanganika had lasted twenty-eight days, during
which time we had traversed over 300 miles of water.
CHAPTER XIV. OUR JOURNEY FROM UJIJI TO UNYANYEMBE.
We felt quite at home when we sat down on our black bear-skin, gay
Persian carpet and clean new mats, to rest with our backs to the
wall, sipping our tea with the air of comfortable men, and chat
over the incidents of the "picnic," as Livingstone persisted in
calling our journey to the Rusizi. It seemed as if old times,
which we loved to recall, had come back again, though our house
was humble enough in its aspect, and our servants were only naked
barbarians; but it was near this house that I had met him -
Livingstone - after that eventful march from Unyanyembe; it was on
this same veranda that I listened to that wonderful story of his
about those far, enchanting regions west of the Lake Tanganika;
it was in this same spot that I first became acquainted with him;
and ever since my admiration has been growing for him, and I feel
elated when he informs me that he must go to Unyanyembe under my
escort, and at my expense. The old mud walls and the bare rafters,
and the ancient thatched roof, and this queer-looking old veranda,
will have an historical interest for me while I live, and so, while
I can, I have taken pains and immortalized the humble old building
by a sketch.
I have just said that my admiration for Livingstone has been
growing. This is true. The man that I was about to interview
so calmly and complacently, as I would interview any prominent
man with the view of specially delineating his nature, or detailing
his opinions, has conquered me. I had intended to interview him,
report in detail what he said, picture his life and his figure,
then bow him my "au revoir," and march back. That he was specially
disagreeable and brusque in his manner, which would make me quarrel
with him immediately, was firmly fixed in my mind.
But Livingstone - true, noble Christian, generous-hearted, frank
man - acted like a hero, invited me to his house, said he was glad
to see me, and got well on purpose to prove the truth of his
statement, "You have brought new life unto me;" and when I fell
sick with the remittent fever, hovering between life and death,
he attended me like a father, and we have now been together for
more than a month.
