lo THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 



eluding Colonel Roosevelt, the German Ambassador, 

 and high officials in Berlin, were more or less worried. 

 Once the matter was carried through, however, we re- 

 ceived the most courteous treatment and especial facili- 

 ties from the German Government.* 



Our second important difficulty was our lack of 

 knowledge as to where the water was to be found. We 

 resolved never to move any but light scouting parties 

 until we were certain as to where next we were to drink. 

 In order to be able to make reconnoissances we had built 

 three pairs of bags made from double canvas, with tin 

 spouts, and arrangements for slinging them on donkeys. 

 The latter animals can go two full days without water. 

 Therefore we counted on a scouting radius of a day and 

 a half before it would be necessary to return to the 

 main camp. If we found more water within that 

 period we would naturally be able to extend this 

 radius. As a matter of fact we were never reduced 

 to straits for water. The country is in many places 

 very dry, and waterholes few and smaU; but one 

 accustomed to arid regions who knows where to look 

 should never, with reasonable precaution, get into 

 difficulties. 



Our third great difficulty was to feed our men. In 



* We arranged with the German consul at Mombasa to meet a German 

 customs official at a designated point near Lake Natron on August 8th. 

 Evidently when the authorities came to a realization of what a long, dry, 

 unknown journey that unfortunate official would have to take in order to 

 keep this rendezvous, they changed their minds. At any rate, we were 

 later — as will be seen — met by native runners with dispatches absolving 

 us from this agreement. 



