6th August, 1872.—­Wagtails begin to discard their young, which feed themselves.  I can think of nothing but “when will these men come?” Sixty days was the period named, now it is eighty-four.  It may be all for the best, in the good Providence of the Most High.

9th August, 1872.—­I do most devoutly thank the Lord for His goodness in bringing my men near to this.  Three came to-day, and how thankful I am I cannot express.  It is well—­the men who went with Mr. Stanley came again to me.  “Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”  Amen.

10th August, 1872.—­Sent back the three men who came from the Safari, with 4 dotis and 3 lbs. of powder.  Called on the Lewale to give the news as a bit of politeness; found that the old chief Nksiwa had been bumped by an ox, and a bruise on the ribs may be serious at his age:  this is another delay from the war.  It is only half-heartedly that anyone goes.

[At last this trying suspense was put an end to by the arrival of a troop of fifty-seven men and boys, made up of porters hired by Mr. Stanley on the coast, and some more Nassick pupils sent from Bombay to join Lieut.  Dawson.  We find the names of John and Jacob Wainwright amongst the latter on Mr. Stanley’s list.

Before we incorporate these new recruits on the muster-roll of Dr. Livingstone’s servants, it seems right to point to five names which alone represented at this time the list of his original followers; these were Susi, Chuma, and Amoda, who joined him in 1864 on the Zambesi, that is eight years previously, and Mabruki and Gardner, Nassick boys hired in 1866.  We shall see that the new comers by degrees became accustomed to the hardships of travel, and shared with the old servants all the danger of the last heroic march home.  Nor must we forget that it was to the intelligence and superior education of Jacob Wainwright (whom we now meet with for the first time) that we were indebted for the earliest account of the eventful eighteen months during which he was attached to the party.

And now all is pounding, packing, bargaining, weighing, and disputing amongst the porters.  Amidst the inseparable difficulties of an African start, one thankful heart gathers, comfort and courage:—­]

15th August, 1872.—­The men came yesterday (14th), having been seventy-four days from Bagamoio.  Most thankful to the Giver of all good I am.  I have to give them a rest of a few days, and then start.

16th August, 1872.—­An earthquake—­“Kiti-ki-sha!”—­about 7.0 P.M. shook me in my katanda with quick vibrations.  They gradually became fainter:  it lasted some 50 seconds, and was observed by many.

17th August, 1872.—­Preparing things.

18th August, 1872.—­Fando to be avoided as extortionate.  Went to bid adieu to Sultan bin Ali, and left goods with him for the return journey, and many cartridges full and empty, nails for boat, two iron pillars, &c.[23]