366 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
We were much surprised, when we reached Witu, to 
find how very clean and well managed the town was. 
Capt. “A. L. Rojers; English’ (Resident at) Lamu;7 may. 
well be proud of having brought both Witu and Mkan- 
umbi into their present state of order and cleanliness 
within a period of a few years. The Sultan of Witu, 
Omar Amaria, did all in his power to make us com- 
fortable, but I was too anxious to catch the steamer at 
Lamu to enjoy his hospitality more than one night. 
We covered the whole distance of twenty-one miles, be- 
tween Witu and Mkanumbi, the next> day in seven hours. 
This shows what camels can do on a good level road. 
Captain Rojers was unable himself to come from Lamu, 
but he very kindly sent a steam-launch and five barges 
to Mkanumbi to take us to the island on which Lamu is 
situated. Captain Rojers, knowing that we should be 
obliged to spend a night at Mkanumbi, was considerate 
enough to send me a bundle containing soda water, cigar- 
ettes, beer, and the latest newspapers. This act of kind- 
ness and thoughtfulness on his part shows one side of the 
character of the man who, with unfailing justice and a firm 
hand, rules the turbulent inhabitants of Lamu, Witu, and 
all the adjacent country. 
No more nights in tents! Our wild but fascinating 
African home has now disappeared. Good-by to the 
camels and donkeys. It was impossible for me to wire to 
Zanzibar and Aden, as the telephone communication be- 
tween Lamu and Mombasa had been cut by that arch- 
fiend Mbarrak, who had started a rebellion near Melindi. 
Our friends, therefore, could not know of our return until 
we presented ourselves at Aden. 
We had made a record journey from Borati to 
Mkanumbi, having accomplished the distance of over 
three hundred miles in a fortnight. And now, when we 
