FROM SAY TO BUSSA 435 thinking that the scene was very like what one sees in the lunatic asylum at Charenton, and instead of a naval officer, I ought to have chosen a doctor accustomed to treat the insane, as ambassador to Ho. He would certainly have looked upon the chief as a dipsomaniac whose case was rather an uncommon one. I was the less interested, however, as it would be my turn to keep watch from two to five o'clock, and I wanted to go to my cabin and have a sleep, especially as the rain was heavy and cold, penetrating to the very bones. In the end it was settled that I was to have the guide the very first thing the next morning.

Would the promise be kept this time ?

No ! not even now. It was evidently decreed that we were not to have a guide. In the morning a man appeared in a canoe who pretended that he was to go with us, and my hopes revived. But he had to wait for a companion who did not turn up, and presently he disappeared himself.

At five o'clock, for the tenth and last time, I demanded the fulfilment of the promise made to me, our Kurteye going ashore with my message. " Listen to me," he said ; " I am sick of talking to these drunkards, I declare I can do absolutely nothing with them ; and I want you to let me go." I gave him leave, and we all set to work to drive the people of Girris off the boats, for they were doing a brisk trade in provisions, as if nothing unusual was going on and were in no hurry to go.

" Push off ! " I cried at last, this time in earnest, and my only regret was that I had yielded the evening before. The first thing in the morning we resumed our voyage without a guide. What could be the reason for the way we were treated ? Did the natives want to make us remain as long as possible for the sake of our presents, and of the purchases we made ? Or was it the two Mussulmans, especially Hadji Hamet, who seems to have been guilty of double dealing with