CARAVAN LIFE 39 



another journey I lost a very fine donkey in crossing the Xzoia 

 river. It was allowed to swim across, by the side of the native 

 dug-out, its head being supported and held up by some of the 

 men. When near the other bank they cast the poor brute off, 

 and the stupid native struck and pushed it with a long bamboo. 

 The current was very swift, and the bank too steep for landing. 

 The donkey was carried away by the current and sank ; we 

 never saw it again. Only once have I lost a donkey from the 

 tsetse-fly. 



But my best donkey was "Jack," my last purchase. I bought 

 him at Mombasa for 75 rupees = ;^5 ; he accompanied me to 

 Lake Albert, and returned with me to Mombasa, serving me 

 for fully two thousand miles. He never had a day's illness 

 or a sore back ; and when I left for England, I sold him 

 for the sum I originally paid for him. He was a young grey 

 donkey and very shy at first, as he had never been ridden. 

 He suspected everybody, and for a long time would not make 

 friends with anybody. The slightest noise behind him or at 

 his side would make him perform sudden gymnastic exercises 

 in which I, on his back, failed to accompany him, with the 

 result that I was landed over his head or thrown sideways. 

 I had one or two rather hard spills. On one occasion I was 

 so badly hurt that, to proceed on the journey, I had to be 

 lifted into the saddle. My Arab head-boy then had the bril- 

 liant idea of placing one of my thick bright-coloured blankets 

 under me. I got so accustomed to the soothing influence 

 of a folded blanket between me and the saddle, especially on 

 long journeys, that even when I was well again, I continued 

 the use of the blanket ; I can recommend its use, especially 

 for lean individuals like myself. The blanket has certainly 

 proved a great protection to my saddle Iwhich arrived in 

 good condition at Mombasa, notwithstanding exposure on the 

 donkey's back for 2000 miles in all weathers. 



"Jack" became extremely tame and docile; he always kept 

 close to the camp, and at once stopped if we called for him. 

 None of my former donkeys would stir a yard without a com- 

 panion preceding it, thus necessitating my keeping two animals. 

 But "Jack" has always been satisfied to do the journey without 

 donkey-companionship. Only once did he stray from camp. 

 When we left Masindi, we passed through the Swahili settle- 

 ment, and "Jack" came suddenly upon his lady-love. Both 



