Part 7 (1/2)
Before proceeding to the Seych.e.l.les, the `Firefly' touched at the island of Zanzibar, and there landed our hero Harold Seadrift and his comrade in misfortune, Disco Lillihammer.
Here, one brilliant afternoon, the two friends sat down under a palm-tree to hold what Disco called a palaver. The spot commanded a fine view of the town and harbour of Zanzibar.
We repeat that the afternoon was brilliant, but it is right to add that it required an African body and mind fully to appreciate the pleasures of it. The sun's rays were blistering, the heat was intense, and the air was stifling. Harold lay down and gasped, Disco followed his example, and sighed. After a few minutes spent in a species of imbecile contemplation of things in general, the latter raised himself to a sitting posture, and proceeded slowly to fill and light his pipe.
Harold was no smoker, but he derived a certain dreamy enjoyment from gazing at Disco, and wondering how he could smoke in such hot weather.
”We'll get used to it I s'pose, like the eels,” observed Disco, when the pipe was in full blast.
”Of course we shall,” replied Harold; ”and now that we have come to an anchor, let me explain the project which has been for some days maturing in my mind.”
”All right; fire away, sir,” said the sailor, blowing a long thin cloud from his lips.
”You are aware,” said Harold, ”that I came out here as supercargo of my father's vessel,” (Disco nodded), ”but you are not aware that my chief object in coming was to see a little of the world in general, and of the African part of it in particular. Since my arrival you and I have seen a few things, which have opened up my mind in regard to slavery; we have now been a fortnight in this town, and my father's agent has enlightened me still further on the subject, insomuch that I now feel within me an intense desire to make an excursion into the interior of Africa; indeed, I have resolved to do so, for the purpose of seeing its capabilities in a commercial point of view, of observing how the slave-trade is conducted at its fountain-head, and of enjoying a little of the scenery and the sport peculiar to this land of Ham.”
”W'y, you speaks like a book, sir,” said Disco, emitting a prolonged puff, ”an' it ain't for the likes me to give an opinion on that there; but if I may make bold to ax, sir, how do you mean to travel--on the back of a elephant or a ry-noceris?--for it seems to me that there ain't much in the shape o' locomotives or 'busses hereabouts--not even cabs.”
”I shall go in a canoe,” replied Harold; ”but my reason for broaching the subject just now is, that I may ask if you are willing to go with me.”
”There's no occasion to ax that sir; I'm your man--north or south, east or west, it's all the same to me. I've bin born to roll about the world, and it matters little whether I rolls ash.o.r.e or afloat--though I prefers the latter.”
”Well, then, that's settled,” said Harold, with a look of satisfaction; ”I have already arranged with our agent here to advance me what I require in the way of funds, and shall hire men and canoes when we get down to the Zambesi--”
”The Zam-wot, sir?”
”The Zambesi; did you never hear of it before?”
”Never, nor don't know wot it is, sir.”
”It is a river; one of the largest on the east coast, which has been well described by Dr Livingstone, that greatest of travellers, whose chief object in travelling is, as he himself says, to raise the negroes out of their present degraded condition, and free them from the curse of slavery.”
”That's the man to _my_ mind,” said Disco emphatically; ”good luck to him.--But w'en d'you mean to start for the Zambizzy, sir?”
”In a few days. It will take that time to get everything ready, and our money packed.”
”Our money packed!” echoed the sailor, with a look of surprise, ”w'y, wot d'ye mean!”
”Just what I say. The money current in the interior of Africa is rather c.u.mbrous, being neither more nor less than goods. You'll never guess what sort--try.”
”Rum,” said Disco.
”No.”
”Pipes and 'baccy.”
Harold shook his head.
”Never could guess nothin',” said Disco, replacing the pipe, which he had removed for a few moments from his lips; ”I gives it up.”
”What would you say to cotton cloth, and thick bra.s.s wire, and gla.s.s beads, being the chief currency in Central Africa?” said Harold.
”You don't mean it, sir?”
”Indeed I do, and as these articles must be carried in large quant.i.ties, if we mean to travel far into the land, there will be more bales and coils than you and I could well carry in our waistcoat pockets.”