TRAVELLING UNDER DIFFICULTIES 



he could see no harm in it, and forthwith agreed to 

 be photographed as often as I wished ! I allowed 

 him to continue in this belief, for his interpretation 

 of my actions was pleasing and unsophisticated, and 

 could do no harm to anyone. 



While at Gururu, I witnessed a curious incident. 

 I was sitting in front of my tent after tea, when I 

 saw a large green snake come out from the thorn 

 fence, which surrounded my camp, in pursuit of a 

 frog, which he caught and swallowed, before my 

 eyes, not three yards away. I quickly got my 

 whip and killed it, having noted the time. Exactly 

 nine and a half minutes after the frosr had been 

 swallowed, I had the snake's stomach opened and 

 found the frog still living, and, though dazed at 

 first, it soon began to hop about. However, he 

 too had to be sacrificed on the altar of science, and 

 they both found their way into the collecting box. 



On I ith January I decided to move on westwards, 

 for, although far from having completely recovered, 

 it was very necessary that I should continue my 

 journey. I had only a limited supply of food, and 

 I feared lest the water should dry up in the arid 

 country that lies between Kurde and the Lorian, 

 which would make it impossible for me to reach the 

 latter place. As I wished to husband my resources, 

 I put my pride in my pocket, and was carried in a 

 stretcher. The porters shared the work of carrying 

 me and of clearing the road, while my syce came 

 behind leading the mule, on which was attached my 

 medicine chest and a little food, so that I migrht 

 have something to eat on arriving at the spot where 

 I should decide to camp, instead of having to await 

 the comino; of the camels. 



78 



