Fort Jameson to Nawalia 



Many others, including most of the servants, were 

 in the sulky stage, and so generally disinclined to 

 move that it would probably have been wiser for 

 us to have accepted the situation and to have 

 remained. However, we were anxious to be off. 

 The place was very hot, and as it was evidently 

 desirable to put a distance between the village and 

 ourselves, we insisted, and by 5 P.M. got everyone 

 under way. 



A night march is apt to be a dangerous experi- 

 ment, and this one proved no exception to the rule. 



As a precaution A acted as rear-guard, and it 



was soon apparent to him that all was not well. 

 " Cooky," who should have been in front, and John, 

 who ought to have followed the last porter, lagged 

 far behind, and had to be sent for two or three times. 

 The porters constantly sat down, and evidently 

 felt the heat, which was certainly very great, so that 

 slow progress was made. Just after dark we 

 reached the dry bed of a stream, where water was 

 expected ; all stopped, and many of the men threw 

 down their loads and disappeared in the bush. 

 Fortunately, John had by this time got over the 

 worst of his "drunk," and being doubtless penitent, 

 disappeared after the fugitives, and by degrees 

 secured them. A - explained to the men that 

 it was impossible to remain where we were, and 

 that it was in their own interests to hurry on to the 

 nearest water, which we hoped was not far off. 

 John showed some energy, "Cooky" bustled on 

 ahead, and we were soon under way again, making 

 good progress, though the night was very dark 



141 



