The Luambwa to the Difuna River 



of course, entailed a longer breakfast halt, but as the 

 days were now pleasantly cool there was no particular 

 hurry to be in camp. " Cooky " came out strong, and 

 I think really approved of the change ; at any rate 

 cold tea and hard boiled eggs, which did very well in 

 the hot weather, became poor comfort in the wet, and 

 we thoroughly enjoyed the change to omelettes, curry 

 and rice, or liver and bacon with hot coffee. We 

 always had a good fire lit for ourselves, at which the 

 breakfast was cooked, and if wet the men would also 

 start fires. 



The real difficulties connected with travel in the 

 rainy season arise from three sources viz., the in- 

 creased liability to sickness among the followers, the 

 slow progress on the line of march which the slippery 

 state of the tracks often entails ; and lastly, swollen 

 rivers which may easily necessitate a halt of some 

 days' duration, until flood waters have subsided. In 

 regard to all these matters luck was in our favour ; 



o 



the only river of importance we had to cross was 

 the Mkushi, and we were over it just in time. I 

 fancy that only two or three days later we should 

 have had some trouble. 



Our rate of progress did not vary appreciably, 

 and falls were few ; the native paths, which were but 

 little used and often overgrown, were seldom really 

 muddy or slippery ; in the forests the soil was light 

 and sandy, so that the water ran off quickly ; in 

 the dambos the marshes had not had time to get 

 sodden. 



Lastly, as regards our men, they stood the rain 

 wonderfully well, so that very little extra sickness 



209 



