290 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
that of being able to add a little drop to the sea of knowl- 
edge possessed by civilized mankind. I will quote a few 
lines from my diary which I wrote at the end of the 
march. “I indulge in a little sentimental writing occa- 
sionally, as the hot sun pouring down on my tent, and the 
effects of eating prodigious quantities of meat and rice 
(always the result of a long march if the food can be 
obtained) cause all sorts of ideas and longings to rise in 
my mind. 
“The boys are all asleep just at this time, —it is best to 
wait until the sun falls a bit from the meridian before 
taking sights, or tramping about, — why not enjoy a little 
dolce far niente! One thinks of the great world far 
away —how circumscribed it seems. Nature appears so 
immense out here that the greatness of civilized mankind 
dwindles by degrees in one’s estimation the longer the 
separation from the artificial continues. But however the 
absolute greatness of that world of engines and _ pretty 
white girls may be, I long to be a part of it once more. 
I long to see my friends in America and England, even if 
I do not envy them the reeular lives they lead. To ire- 
turn to the dry, barren hills on which we are camped: 
we have many sick men and sick camels, and a day’s 
rest will be most beneficial to them. I shall remain here 
tomorrow, and send men ahead to hunt a road and water 
for our next march.” 
Dodson and I both had a little fever the next day, prob- 
ably owing to our having walked so much in the water, and 
a good rest was most acceptable to us. <A party of boys 
that I sent out to reconnoitre reported that they could find 
no water, although they had gone a long way ahead; so | 
had to send back to the river we had left and have the 
water-barrels filled. Two more marches brought us to the 
long strip of water that extends from the northern end of 
