Our Zanzibari deserters had been deluded like ourselves. Imagining that Ugarrowwa's people had continued their journey along some inland route westward, they had hastened westward in pursuit to join them, whereas we discovered they had returned eastward to their master. The arrangements made with Ugarrowwa, and the public proclamation of the man himself before all, would, I was assured, suffice to prevent further desertion. We were pretty tired of the river work with its numerous rapids, and I suggested to Ugarrowwa that I should proceed by land; the Arab, however, was earnest in dissuading me from that course, as the people would be spared the necessity of carrying many loads, the sick having been left behind, and informed me that his information led him to believe that the river was much more navigable above for many days than below. ----- [I] Was he very unfortunate? I paid Ugarrowwa for thirteen months' board, sent him to Stanley Falls, thence down the Congo and by sea to Madeira, _viâ_ the Cape to Zanzibar, where he arrived in a state well described by "as fat as butter." CHAPTER IX. UGARROWWA'S TO KILONGA-LONGA'S. Ugarrowwa sends us three Zanzibari deserters--We make an example--The "Express" rifles--Conversation with Rashid--The Lenda river--Troublesome rapids--Scarcity of food--Some of Kilonga-Longa's followers--Meeting of the rivers Ihuru and Ituri--State and numbers of the Expedition--Illness of Captain Nelson--We send couriers ahead to Kilonga-Longa's--The sick encampment--Randy and the guinea fowl--Scarcity of food--Illness caused by the forest pears--Fanciful menus--More desertions--Asmani drowned--Our condition in brief--Uledi's suggestion--Umari's climb--My donkey is shot for food--We strike the track of the Manyuema and arrive at their village. Once more the Expedition consisted of picked men. My mind was relieved of anxiety respecting the rear column, and of the fate which threatened the sick men. We set out from Ugarrowwa's station with 180 loads in the canoes and boat, forty-seven loads to be carried once in four days by alternate companies. The Arabs accompanied us for a few hours on the 19th to start us on our road and to wish us success in our venture.