364 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
are unnecessary in these remote regions. As the Rev. 
Robert Ormerod stepped on the sandy beach, he grasped 
our hands heartily, and at once our savage life among the 
“ blacks ” seemed like a dream. 
I will pass quickly over our trip to the coast, for, 
although journeys along the Tana River have made 
a great part of the subject-matter for more than one 
book, it was to me but the delightful conclusion of 
along and successful expedition. 
The Rev. Robert Ormerod, who was a member of 
the Methodist Reformed Mission stationed near the 
mouth of the Tana, had been making an expedition in 
canoes far up the river, with a view of forming another 
mission station. By his great tact and ability he had 
won the hearts of the natives along the river, so that he 
was soon able to procure for me a half-dozen canoes 
and Pocomos, or river-men, to paddle them. The camel 
loads were lightened by our placing many of them in 
the canoes, while Dodson and I made ourselves most 
comfortable, each in the middle of a “ dug-out,” reclining 
on blankets and bags. 
What luxury it was for us to be paddled quietly along, 
after having had such wearying marches! The caravan 
started out very early each morning, so that we could 
meet it camped at some spot near thé river about noon. 
A more pleasurable trip than this canoe ride from 
Borati to Ndera I never made in my life. Mr. Ormerod, 
among his other kindnesses, provided Dodson and myself 
with various periodicals, three or four months old, but 
very recent to us. 
The various villages we passed furnished fruit, vege- 
tables, and eggs. Lazy crocodiles exposed their sides for 
us to shoot at, while many gay-colored birds stimulated 
us to further natural-history work. Troops of baboons 
