Fort Jameson to Nawalia 



So soon as all the men were paid off I had to pur- 

 chase fresh stores, give the servants such advances 

 as they required, and settle our banking account. 



Hitherto we had paid the *'posho " in cash; for 

 the future it was to be paid in the so-called cloth or 

 calico, the recognized currency of the country, and 

 this had to be purchased. Two yards per man per 

 week was the allowance. We took with us four 

 hundred yards in two bales, making two loads, at a 

 total cost of ^5. 



The African Lakes Co. had collected men for 

 us; but our arrival having been delayed ten days, 

 they had been obliged to employ them elsewhere. 

 As we were anxious to get on, time being short, 

 the friendly assistance of the official transport 



authority had become essential. Accordingly A 



went to the Government offices to see about en- 

 gaging fresh machilla teams and porters. 



The morning had been a busy one, and we were 

 not sorry when the station twelve o'clock gun 

 announced the approach of lunch time. We had 

 now to decide upon our plans. The rainy season — 

 so we were told — commences as a rule towards the 

 middle of November. The early rains are usually 

 light, and do not impede travelling. Heavy rains 

 set in about the middle of December, and after their 

 advent the unhealthiness of the climate increases, 

 and the flooded rivers and muddy, slippery tracks 

 make travelling difficult. We were therefore 

 advised to be clear of the country by the end of 

 January at the latest. 



We had decided to return to Europe by the 



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