-^ Hostile Forces 



this respect it should be carefully borne in mind that, at 

 times of great heat, water-pools will be dried up with quite 

 astounding rapidity. Or again, for example, if a herd of 

 elephants should suddenly visit a big pool, they may not 

 only drink the greater part of it, but may turn it in one 

 night into a miniature bog, whose scanty liquid contents 

 will quickly disappear before the rays of the sun. 



\ -,1 Ul \M 



In expeditions like mine, however, one will get into 

 difficulties about water in spite of all precautions. I cannot 

 too urgently impress upon every traveller the need for the 

 greatest care in this respect. 



Among the disagreeable reminiscences of my African 

 travels are the thunderstorms at night in the high mountain- 

 regions. They are the carriers' worst foe. The com- 

 bination of furious gales, floods, and cold, with the 



VOL. II. 



669 



20 



