OVER THE LIKIPIA ESCARPMENT 



That was our whole plan. Our transport rider's 

 object in starting this night was to reach the Kedong 

 River, and there to outspan until our arrival next 

 day. The cattle would thus get a good feed and 

 rest. Then at four in the afternoon we would set 

 out to conquer the Thirst. After that it would be a 

 question of travelling to suit the oxen. 



Next morning, when we arose, we found one of 

 the wagon Kikuyus awaiting us. His tale ran that 

 after going four miles, the oxen had been stampeded 

 by lions. In the mix-up the dusselboom had been 

 broken. He demanded a new dusselboom. I 

 looked as wise as though I knew just what that 

 meant; and told him, largely, to help himself. 

 Shortly he departed carrying what looked to be the 

 greater part of a forest tree. 



We were in no hurry, so we did not try to get our 

 safari under way before eight o'clock. It consisted 

 of twenty nine porters, the gunbearers, three personal 

 boys, three syces, and the cook. Of this lot some 

 few stand out from the rest, and deserve particular 

 attention. 



Of course I had my veterans, Memba Sasa and 

 Mohamet. There was also Kongoni, gunbearer, 

 elsewhere described. The third gunbearer was 

 Mavrouki, a Wakamba. He was the personal gun- 

 bearer of a Mr. Twigg, who very courteously loaned 



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