A WANT OF FORESIGHT 



with the rest of my camels and the equipment lent 

 me by Captain Salkeld, when I had reached the 

 former place. I had arrived at Archer's Post early 

 in the morning, after a march of some twelve miles, 

 and I allowed my men and animals to rest during 

 the day. I passed some very pleasant hours talking 

 to the two Europeans in the store, and enjoyed an 

 excellent meal followed by a Turkish cigarette — two 

 luxuries I had not tasted since I had left Shimbirleh 

 and the Lak Guran almost three months previously. 

 I was also able to sell four of my camels at a good 

 price. 



The Government have lately constructed a good 

 road from Meru to Archer's Post, and thence to 

 Marsabit, over which there is a regular monthly service 

 of wagon transport for carrying the mail and food 

 supplies. There is an alternative route between the 

 Post and Meru, also made by the Protectorate 

 authorities in 19 lo, I believe, but since practically 

 abandoned because it is waterless. To construct 

 such a road at no insignificant expense, without 

 taking into consideration such an important point as 

 the water-supply, seemed to me to argue an extra- 

 ordinary want of foresight in those who were 

 reponsible for it. 



However, as time pressed, I decided to march 

 to Meru by this route, since it was some few miles 

 shorter, although the absence of water would compel 

 me to march throughout the night. 



At seven o'clock, therefore, on the evening of the 

 same day as my arrival, I left Archer's Post and 

 headed south towards Kenya. No cloud dimmed 

 the brilliance of the stars, which shone with redoubled 

 splendour in the absence of the moon, and all through 



280 



