ARCHER S POST 



camped where I was, having plenty of water in the 

 tanks with me. 



It would be tedious to follow In detail the two 

 days that followed before Archer's Post was reached. 

 The country grew more hilly as we advanced, and 

 this tried the camels severely ; they were born and 

 bred in the sandy semi-arid and level country so 

 characteristic of southern Italian Somaliland, so that 

 they were quite unfitted to the new conditions in 

 which they found themselves. A few developed sore 

 backs, and many limped slightly from bruises or cuts, 

 caused by the loose and sharp volcanic rock. But at 

 length the Post was reached, and I found there two 

 Englishmen and a little store ; but, unfortunately, there 

 was little in the way of food to be bought, and so it 

 was impossible to remain there and allow the weary 

 men and camels to rest before proceeding to Meru 

 and entering on the last stage of my journey. 



268 



