130 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA chap. 



the northern edge of the great Athi Plains, not far 

 from the picturesquely wooded foot-hills of the 

 Kikuyu Mountains. 



During the night six rascally porters managed 

 to elude the guard and escaped, taking their 

 blankets and posho with them. This meant, of 

 course, that their six loads had to be distributed 

 amongst the remaining porters, who grumbled 

 loudly, and swore dire vengeance on the deserters 

 should they ever cross their path again. 



Next morninof we resumed our march to the 

 junction of the rivers Chania and Thika. We 

 camped on the tongue of land between the two 

 rivers, which forms an ideal site for the home- 

 stead of an enterprising rancher. Both streams are 

 fringed with fine trees at this spot, while within 

 sight are the beautiful Chania Falls, which plunge 

 over a rocky precipice some fifty feet high. 



Soon after daylight the following morning we 

 set off again, and had not long resumed our march 

 when we met a large caravan of Arabs, Somalis, 

 and natives of the Boran country, with camels, 

 mules, cattle, goats, and sheep. I noticed in the 

 crowd a most beautiful and graceful girl, who had 

 the appearance and wore the dress of an ancient 

 Egyptian. She reminded me forcibly of a picture 

 I had once seen of Cleopatra travelling in a similar 

 way, with camels in the background. I only wish I 



