Which had caused him so much trouble and
vexation, and weary marching of hundreds of miles.
Our ship - though nothing more than a cranky canoe hollowed out of
a noble mvule tree of Ugoma - was an African Argo bound on a nobler
enterprise than its famous Grecian prototype. We were bound upon
no mercenary errand, after no Golden Fleece, but perhaps to
discover a highway for commerce which should bring the ships of
the Nile up to Ujiji, Usowa, and far Marungu. We did not know
what we might discover on our voyage to the northern head of
the Tanganika; we supposed that we should find the Rusizi to be
an effluent of the Tanganika, flowing down to the Albert or the
Victoria N'Yanza. We were told by natives and Arabs that the
Rusizi ran out of the lake.
Sayd bin Majid had stated that his canoe would carry twenty-five
men, and 3,500 lbs. of ivory. Acting upon this information, we
embarked twenty-five men, several of whom had stored away bags of
salt for the purposes of trade with the natives; but upon pushing
off from the shore near Ujiji, we discovered the boat was too
heavily laden, and was down to the gunwale. Returning in-shore,
we disembarked six men, and unloaded the bags of salt, which left
us with sixteen rowers, Selim, Ferajji the cook, and the two
Wajiji guides.
Having thus properly trimmed our boat we again pushed off, and
steered her head for Bangwe Island, which was distant four or
five miles from the Bunder of Ujiji. While passing this island
the guides informed us that the Arabs and Wajiji took shelter on
it during an incursion of the Watuta - which took place some years
ago - when they came and invaded Ujiji, and massacred several of
the inhabitants. Those who took refuge on the island were the
only persons who escaped the fire and sword with which the Watuta
had visited Ujiji.
After passing the island and following the various bends and
indentations of the shore, we came in sight of the magnificent bay
of Kigoma, which strikes one at once as being an excellent harbor
from the variable winds which blow over the Tanganika. About
10 A.M. we drew in towards the village of Kigoma, as the east wind
was then rising, and threatened to drive us to sea. With those
travelling parties who are not in much hurry Kigoma is always
the first port for canoes bound north from Ujiji. The next
morning at dawn we struck tent, stowed baggage, cooked, and
drank coffee, and set off northward again.
The lake was quite calm; its waters, of a dark-green colour,
reflected the serene blue sky above. The hippopotami came up
to breathe in alarmingly close proximity to our canoe, and then
plunged their heads again, as if they were playing hide-and-seek
with us.
