Lilongwe to Fort Jameson 



stances his cheerful crow could be heard at intervals 

 during the march. He reached Broken Hill in 

 safety, and joined a company of local fowls. I trust 

 he continues to crow as cheerily as ever. 



(4th October.) We started off next morning 

 under the guidance of a local native, the intention 

 being to make a slight detour in search of game. 



After marching for about two hours A noticed, 



from the position of the sun, that we were going 

 eastward in place of westward, and becoming 

 suspicious, sent for the guide and John. We went 

 on again, but as the interview had not quieted 



A 's doubts, we stopped at the first village and 



sent for the chief. Much parleying ensued, but at 

 last it became sufficiently clear that, in place of 

 going forward, we were marching along an old road 

 that would in time take us back to Dedza Boma, 

 and that there was nothing for it but either to 

 return to Kalolo and lose a whole day, or take a 

 short cut across country a somewhat risky pro- 

 ceeding, as the sun was growing very hot and water 

 was scarce. We decided on the latter course, 

 however, and, accompanied by two local guides, 



started off again, A checking our course by 



compass. We dismissed the Kalolo guide with a 

 caution. If ever a man deserved a flogging to 



brighten his intellect he did, but A 's invariable 



rule was never to flog except in cases of assault. 

 How he managed to deceive the Lilongwe capitao, 

 who was supposed to be equal to any amount of 

 Achepeta guile, we were never able to discover. 



Our route took us straight across country, 



83 



