Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

THE CRUISE OF THE " CASTOE." 81
doubt they had been marched into the interior
on our approach. The best way would have
been to have surprised the place just before
daylight in the morning, in which case we
might have discovered it full.
The inhabitants of one of these villages, after
several times receiving the boats' crews in a
friendly manner, proved so treacherous on one
occasion, that they seized two of our officers
on their landing there, Lieut. Campbell, R.N.,
and Lieut. Reed, R.M., under the plea that they
had not paid for the water taken from the
neighbourhood ; they then lashed them to a tree,
and informed them they would be shot at
sunset. The boat's crew at this time were in
their boat, laying off, and the midshipman,
Mr. Staples,^ on being apprised of what had
taken place, mounted the gun and covered it
over with a sail, got the men under arms, but
wisely refrained from opening fire, as it would
have insured their putting their threat into
execution immediately. The natives at last
'
Subsequently lost as Senior Lieutenant in the " Arab "
bri-.