I had a most refreshing night’s rest, and at dawn I sought out my camp, with a will to enjoy the new life now commencing.  On counting the animals, two donkeys were missing; and on taking notes of my African moneys, one coil of No. 6 wire was not to be found.  Everybody had evidently fallen on the ground to sleep, oblivious of the fact that on the coast there are many dishonest prowlers at night.  Soldiers were despatched to search through the town and neighbourhood, and Jemadar Esau was apprised of our loss, and stimulated to discover the animals by the promise of a reward.  Before night one of the missing donkeys was found outside the town nibbling at manioc-leaves, but the other animal and the coil of wire were never found.

Among my visitors this first day at Bagamoyo was Ali bin Salim, a brother of the famous Sayd bin Salim, formerly Ras Kafilah to Burton and Speke, and subsequently to Speke and Grant.  His salaams were very profuse, and moreover, his brother was to be my agent in Unyamwezi, so that I did not hesitate to accept his offer of assistance.  But, alas, for my white face and too trustful nature! this Ali bin Salim turned out to be a snake in the grass, a very sore thorn in my side.  I was invited to his comfortable house to partake of coffee.  I went there:  the coffee was good though sugarless, his promises were many, but they proved valueless.  Said he to me, “I am your friend; I wish to serve you., what can I do for you?” Replied I, “I am obliged to you, I need a good friend who, knowing the language and Customs of the Wanyamwezi, can procure me the pagazis I need and send me off quickly.  Your brother is acquainted with the Wasungu (white men), and knows that what they promise they make good.  Get me a hundred and forty pagazis and I will pay you your price.”  With unctuous courtesy, the reptile I was now warmly nourishing; said, “I do not want anything from you, my friend, for such a slight service, rest content and quiet; you shall not stop here fifteen days.  To-morrow morning I will come and overhaul your bales to see what is needed.”  I bade him good morning, elated with the happy thought that I was soon to tread the Unyanyembe road.

The reader must be made acquainted with two good and sufficient reasons why I was to devote all my energy to lead the Expedition as quickly as possible from Bagamoyo.

First, I wished to reach Ujiji before the news reached Livingstone that I was in search of him, for my impression of him was that he was a man who would try to put as much distance as possible between us, rather than make an effort to shorten it, and I should have my long journey for nothing.