despatching more than half our stores to Debruyne.

That evening we had a letter from de Heusch, saying that he and forty men would arrive next day from Lupungu. On the 2nd November definite information concerning Gongo Muchufa reached us. He held his canoes in readiness for the passage of Sefu's forces. As we knew that de Heusch must soon arrive, I took forty men and marched down the river bank, my object being, if possible, to cut out the canoes — if not, to attempt to check the Arab forces while in the act of crossing the river. Six hours' marching brought me to the river bank, which the high ground, however, compelled me to leave again, the dry and open space a mile or two from the river affording much better walking.

I found the ferry village deserted, and all the canoes gone.