XXVI SOUTHWARD ONCE MORE 323 



brought with us on the camels was used up long 

 before the journey was completed, and when we at 

 last reached the Rendile encampment at Serramba, 

 fourteen of the porters and boys had given up the 

 struggle in despair, and, overcome by the heat and 

 thirst, had fallen by the way. 



Munyakai bin Diwani now showed the metal that 

 he was made of, for, collecting half a dozen of the 

 more able porters and getting from the Rendile a 

 couple of camels loaded with jars of water, he 

 started back along the route, and by his prompt 

 action managed to rescue ten of the exhausted men, 

 who were lying stretched out on the path almost 

 at the last stage of death from thirst. They revived 

 somewhat when they had drunk a little of the water 

 which he gave them, and as soon as they were able to 

 move he sent them on to camp without their loads, 

 which were brought in by other men later on. One 

 of the unfortunate porters and three boys could not 

 be found anywhere, and what their fate was, to this 

 day I know 'xiot. I sent out search parties, lit fires, 

 fired rifles, and promised the Rendile rewards, but 

 without result. Two of the donkeys also died during 

 the march from want of water. It may be remem- 

 bered that I had set out from Nairobi with fifty tins 

 to hold water, but these had been subjected to such 

 rough usage on the road that not more than half a 

 dozen were capable of holding anything. 



Y 2 



