I wished to secure this to give to Speke on my return to England, as he had told me, when at Gondokoro, how he had been obliged to part with that and many other articles sorely against his will.

I therefore offered to give him three common double-barrelled guns in exchange for the rifle.

This he declined, as he was quite aware of the difference in quality.

He then produced a large silver chronometer that he had received from Speke.

"It was DEAD," he said, "and he wished me to repair it." This I declared to be impossible.