210 AFRICA SPEAKS 



travels through one of the coldest parts of Central 

 Africa and, after the sun goes down, the thermometer 

 drops to near the freezing point. Once again I shivered 

 in my sheepskin coat as I drove past the signpost 

 which marked the equator, and once again marveled 

 that I ever thought this band around the earth was a 

 belt of heat I 



Upon arrival at the tavern run by Bwana Chai, 

 we found the old gentleman was sober I He greeted 

 us like long-lost brothers and soon we were sitting 

 down to hot chakula. On the next day the expedition 

 would split into two parts for a while, so I was up late 

 explaining to the other members what they were ex- 

 pected to do during my absence. 



A few miles east of Eldama Ravine some wheel 

 tracks turned off into the bush, these indicating the 

 way to Lake Baringo in the bottom of the Great Rift. 

 Here I left Ted and Austin with the greater part of 

 the load and most of the boys, while I, with only my 

 personal boy, Juma, and another lazy cuss whom I 

 was taking into Nairobi to j5re, kept on the road to 

 Nakuru, where we arrived in the forenoon. From 

 here I attempted to reach Thompson's Falls by way 

 of a short cut which would save me about forty-five 

 miles. I got started on the proper path all right, but 

 in this country there are no signs, so I suddenly found 

 myself at the end of the road. 



Near this point was a police post and the ofiicer in 

 charge told me I should have turned off on to another 

 road about twenty miles back. He drew me a map 

 showing how I could cut over a range of mountains, 

 thus saving ten of the lost miles. Still being an optimist 

 or foolish, I don't know which, I attempted to follow 



