INTO AN UNKNOWN LAND 



they placed in me a complete confidence that I would 

 bring them back safely to their homes at last. 



I knew nothing of what lay in front of me ; the 

 maps I had of this part of the country were mere 

 blanks, and I was obliged to trust only to the 

 accuracy of my last latitude observations and compass- 

 bearing-s to enable me to reach the river. Some 

 of the Swahili porters were already wavering and 

 talking of going back, so I had to be firm, and in 

 this my headman and my interpreter, Hassan, helped 

 me immensely, or else Juma and the malcontents for 

 whom he spoke might have won over to their side 

 the rest of my men, and I should have had to return. 

 I believe some kind fate was looking after me, for 

 after making my way slowly for over an hour 

 through the wait-a-bit thorn, I found a game trail, 

 and following this, came upon two small pools of 

 rain-water, one of which was beautifully clear and 

 sweet. I was very much relieved, and so were my 

 men ; they pitched camp and built the zariba in a 

 very short time. Meanwhile I had gone out in 

 search of food, and though I saw no big game, I 

 luckily shot a couple of doves for dinner. Later on, 

 as the night was clear, I seized the opportunity to 

 take a series of observations for time and latitude, 

 which kept me up till nearly eleven o'clock. 



i8i 



