THE LAST TREK. 413 



A little farther we saw zebra, and the harte- 

 beeste, and the gazelles. One by one appeared 

 and disappeared again the beasts with which we 

 had grown so familiar during OUT long months 

 in the jungle. So remarkable was the number 

 of species that we both began to comment upon 

 the fact, to greet the animals, to bid them fare- 

 well, as though they were reporting in order from 

 the jungle to bid us God- speed. Half in earnest 

 we waved our hands to them and shouted our 

 greetings to them in the native punda milia, 

 kongoni, pa-a, fice, m'pofu, twiga, simba, n'grooui, 

 and the rest. Before our eyes the misty ranges 

 hardened and stiffened under the fierce sun. 

 Our men marched steadily, cheerfully, beating 

 their loads in rhythm with their safari sticks, 

 crooning under their breaths, and occasionally 

 breaking into full- voiced chant. They were glad 

 to be back from the long safari, back from across 

 the Thirst, from the high, cold country, from the 

 dangers and discomforts of the unknown. We 

 rode a little wistfully, for these great plains and 

 mysterious jungles, these populous, dangerous, 

 many -voiced nights, these flaming, splendid 

 dawnings and day-falls, these fierce, shimmering 

 noons we were to know no more. 



Two days we had in Nairobi before going to 



