178 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



and had a long brown mane like that of the lion. This is much 

 prized by the natives as an ornament, which is cut into strips and 

 worn round the body. 



As the party went into camp that evening Baker rode out alone 

 in quest of game, and found a herd of giraffes, whose towering 

 heads could be seen as they were cropping the tops of mimosa 

 trees. Not being able to stalk them, he relied on speed, and 

 chased the beautiful animals a long distance, but was unable to 

 get a shot, owing to the dense undergrowth which they ran into. 



A TERRIBLE AFFLICTION. 



ON the next day the party arrived in Latooka, only to find that 

 small-pox had broken out in a virulent form, and the disease was 

 soon communicated to the Turkish camp. In addition to this 

 misfortune, two of Baker's best horses died, as did also three 

 camels and five donkeys, while his wife was laid up with gastric 

 fever. Although the entire journey, since leaving Gondokoro 

 had been little else than a succession of misfortunes, none had 

 equaled those which they were now experiencing. The Turkish 

 camp was reeking with small-pox, and Baker, as a precaution, 

 had to change his quarters and pay special attention to his men 

 to avoid the pestilence. To add to their other troubles, Moy and 

 Commoro induced the Turks to join them in an attack upon a 

 Kayala village, from which a great many cows were stolen, and 

 sixty-five women killed, but the Turks were forced to retreat. 

 Thus more enemies were made, who might at any time attack 

 Latooka in return, and overwhelm Baker with the rest, for the 

 natives of Kayala were powerful and warlike. 



BACK TO OBBO. 



THE position of affairs now became so desperate that the Turks 

 iecided to proceed once more to Obbo, and as Baker was 

 dependent entirely upon them, he was compelled to follow. 

 Upon reaching that place again, they found the people on the 

 verge of starvation ; the small-pox had also broken out among 

 them, and they were dying rapidly from this dreadful plague. 

 In addition to their other calamities, the Turks had robbed th> 



