[17] In his excitement he was hardly able to say all he had to communicate.

Bit by bit, however, I learned that he first went to the palace, and, finding the king had gone off yachting to the Murchison Creek, he followed him there.

The king for a long while would not believe his tale that I had come, but, being assured, he danced with delight, and swore he would not taste food until he had seen me.

"Oh," he said, over and over again and again, according to my informer, "can this be true?
Can the white man have come all this way to see me?
What a strong man he must be too, to come so quickly! Here are seven cows, four of them milch ones, as you say he likes milk, which you will give him; and there are three for yourself for having brought him so quickly.

Now, hurry off as fast as you can, and tell him I am more delighted at the prospect of seeing him than he can be to see me.