was not altogether successful. The natives were in a quarrelsome turbulent state, and our ally, Gongo Lutete, had been sent back to his capital, N'Gandu, to arrange matters. As there seemed no chance of active service, or any immediate prospects of an expedition to Lake Tanganyika, I determined to volunteer for the district of N'Gandu, and with this intention went down to Nyangwe to interview the Commandant. While at Nyangwe despatches arrived from Duchesne, saying that he had discovered, among other charges, that Gongo Lutete was a traitor, and that he had made him a prisoner.

This seemed to us a most extraordinary proceeding, and the rumour that Gongo was plotting to assassinate the Commandant Dhanis himself we placed no faith in whatever. Taking twelve men and two hundred of Lutete's people under a petty chief named