"Stay here; Shimbo him go and bring back big canoe," was the answer.
When we suggested that Aboh and Shimbo should take Tom across, they at
once agreed to do so, Aboh observing that Shimbo's canoe would easily
carry three people, but that it would require two canoes of similar size
to paddle us all across. Tom had no objection to accompany the blacks,
and we were anxious that he should get under shelter as soon as
possible. We ourselves proposed remaining where we were and hunting, so
that we might carry a good supply of game with us as a present to our
friends' tribe.

Instead, therefore, of starting off to look for a tree to make a canoe
as we had intended, we all repaired to the fire which Tom had been
blowing into a blaze, and soon had a number of wildfowl roasting before
it. As soon as he saw our pot on the fire, Shimbo ran off to his canoe
and brought back some plantains, which he set to work to peel; he then
carefully washed them, and cutting them in several pieces, put them into
the saucepan. Then he half filled it with water and covered it over
with leaves, on the top of which he placed the banana peelings. The
vegetables were boiled by the time the ducks were roasted. He also
roasted a few ground-nuts, both of which were very acceptable to us
after not having tasted vegetables for so long a time. We thought the
boiled plantains were rather insipid, until Shimbo produced a bag full
of cayenne pepper, with which he sprinkled them as he hooked them out of
the pot, and placed them on some broad leaves to serve as plates.
Altogether, we had not had so satisfactory a meal for some time. We
told Aboh that we hoped to have plenty of game for his friends, and
urged him to come back as soon as possible. Tom looked rather grave as
we lifted him into the canoe. Perhaps he was not so confident as we
were that he would receive a friendly reception.

While watching the canoe as she skimmed over the calm surface of the
lake urged by Aboh's and Shimbo's paddles, we could just see the blue
outline of the opposite shore, with here and there what we supposed to
be tall trees rising above those of the usual forest growth, but they
might be hills or hillocks, so wide was the lake. It would evidently
have taken us many a day's march to get round the way we proposed. Then
we might have been stopped by the bad people of whom Aboh spoke.

Our meditations on the subject were interrupted by the appearance of the
snout of a