Kakamero 



to the urgency of my instructions, I had to give in. 

 So the next day we merely did eight miles, and all 

 the while I was fretting to push on. I shot a few 

 doves as I walked along the road as a variation to 

 the awfully indigestible cuckoo or native fowl. I 

 purchased a goat from a native for one shilling and 

 fourpence. A chief made me a present of some eggs 

 and vegetables, and my orderly, scavenging round 

 the native huts, procured me some bananas and 

 grenadillas ; so that when my cook-boy had com- 

 mandeered some fresh milk, I did myself well. 



The following day's march brought us to the 

 prettily laid out township of Kakamero, which had 

 quite recently been deserted by the Government 

 officials, who had retired to the more healthy station 

 of Mbende. The paths and roads were still most 

 beautifully kept, as also all the grounds in the 

 precincts of the government buildings. The Boma 

 looked quite pathetic, standing in a forlorn and 

 desolate manner amidst beautiful roses, flowers, and 

 creepers. I plead guilty here to taking advantage 

 of its unprotected state to remove some of its 

 lemons and papaw to make good a rather empty 

 nook in one of my chop-boxes. 



I waited here until my "safari" arrived, as I had 

 to consult my headman again about the camps. I 

 was bent on reaching Mbende by the morrow, 

 porters or no porters, and as the distance was a 

 matter of sixteen miles, I desired to push them on 

 past Kakamero to lessen the next day's effort. On 

 their arrival I marshalled them in line and put it to 



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