158 ACEOSS AFRICA. [Chap. 



January, departure from his place, seemed to have had some effect ; for, 



^^'^*- soon after leaving, we were overtaken by one of his sons, who 



promised that, if I would return, I should receive a present of 



a goat, some corn, and pombe. But, being fairly under way, I 



refused to turn back. 



Following the road along a small flat lying between the 

 stream and the foot of the hill — the northern end of which we 

 rounded — brought us to another mountain with so sharp an as- 

 cent that the men were unable to carry me, and I had literally 

 to be dragged up by my arms. From the summit there was a 

 most extensive view of meadows, woods, and valleys spreading 

 at our feet, surrounded by mountains presenting every variety 

 of outline and size. The most distant, I was told, overhung 

 the Tanganyika. 



We had ascended this hill at the only accessible point in the 

 direction from which we approached it, and the sides in many 

 places went down so sheer that huge stones, rolled over the 

 edge, crashed through the branches of projecting trees without 

 touching earth till they landed in the valley below. 



A blinding rain now set in, and drenched every body and 

 every thing, and covered the hill -sides wdtli running water, 

 much to our discomfort ; and in the afternoon we were glad to 

 camp near a small assemblage of huts with about a dozen in- 

 habitants. Ko provisions were obtainable here ; and the men, 

 instead of pushing on at once, started away on a foraging expe- 

 dition, which detained us for three days. They then returned, 

 without having met with any success. 



During these days I was so seedy from the drenching on the 

 hills and the pain my leg gave me, that it quite prevented my 

 feeling any hunger. And this was rather fortunate, for there 

 was nothing to eat excepting one plum - pudding, which I 

 kept thus far on the chance of seeing another Christmas in 

 Africa. 



Poor Jasmin was thoroughly broken down from want of 

 corn. His last effort was to drag himself to my tent door, 

 where he lay down exhausted and utterly unable to move. 

 Having no food whatever to give the poor beast, I thought it 

 a merciful act to put a bullet through his brain, for I could 

 not bear to witness his sufferings any longer. The only riding 



