M'Gambi said that all would be right if I would only agree to pay the king a visit.

I objected to this, as I told him the king, his brother, did not want to see me, but only to observe what I had, in order to beg for all that he saw.

He appeared much hurt, and assured me that he would be himself responsible that nothing of the kind should happen, and that he merely begged as a favor that I would visit the king on the following morning, and that people should be ready to carry me if I were unable to walk.

Accordingly I arranged to be carried to Kamrasi's camp at about 8 A.M.
At the hour appointed M'Gambi appeared, with a great crowd of natives.
My clothes were in rags, and as personal appearance has a certain effect, even in Central Africa, I determined to present myself to the king in as favorable a light as possible.

I happened to possess a full-dress Highland suit that I had worn when I lived in Perthshire many years before.