152 ACROSS LAIKIPIA 



Now, however, we knew the position of Kenya, and if the 

 guide failed us, we could brave the Masai, and march straight 

 across the plains to the Kikuyu plantations on the southern 

 slopes of the mountain. 



During the day we passed close by some extensive prairie 

 fires, which must have been lighted by natives, though we 

 saw none. The guide led us between two of the largest of 

 the fires, and we were all half choked by smoke. We reached 

 the Guaso Narok fairly early, and forded it at a place where it was 

 20 yards wide and 2 feet deep. As our guide said we should 

 come to some Masai kraals next day, he and I spent the rest of 

 the day in finding a route that would avoid them. On return- 

 ing to camp in the evening, I heard that the porter Jumbe was 

 missing. We searched for him as thoroughly as possible, but 

 without success. We could not delay, to continue the hunt in 

 the morning, and had to abandon him to his fate. It was the 

 man's own fault and due to disobedience, though he could not 

 be blamed for this, as he had been in a condition of imbecility 

 ever since a sunstroke on the shores of Lake Losuguta. The 

 night had been intensely cold, and the exposure probably 

 killed him. If not, it is to be hoped that the man soon met 

 with either lions or Wanderobbo, for the physical pain of 

 death from either would be merciful, in comparison with the 

 mental agony of wandering lost in the wilderness, and dying 

 slowly of starvation. 



At this point I became much troubled about our route. 

 According to the two maps of this district, if we followed the 

 course of the Guaso Narok we should enter a broad valley 

 between a range of mountains to our left, and two great peaks, 

 Goyito and Kinangop, each 14,000 feet high, to our right. 

 The topography, as represented by the maps, had led me to 

 expect that a nucleus of old Archean rocks would occur in this 

 mountain group ; and I hoped to find on the flanks of these 

 rocks some, intermediate in age, between them and the volcanic 

 series. I therefore resolved to continue along the valley of the 

 " Ururi " (the Upper Guaso Narok) until opposite the pass 

 between the two western peaks, and then turn eastward across 

 the Aberdare Mountains of Thomson, or Settima Kette (or 

 Chain) of von Hohnel. This route seemed an easy one to 

 find, and the only part of it that might have been expected to 



