WITH FLASH-LIGHT AND RIFLE 



in the German colonial army, who managed his small 

 ostrich farm most successfully. 



After a long march through the Rombo region, my 

 caravan reached Usiri. Mangi (chief) Mambua sup- 

 plied us liberally with beans. It is rather difficult to 

 learn much about the Usiri land from its inhabitants, 

 for they are very shy and diffident. The country is 

 partly covered with large banana plantations; the rest 

 is almost a desert from lack of water. 



From Usiri we marched to the Ngare-Rongai River, 

 crossed it, passed Marago-Kanga, a drinking-place, and 

 at last reached the eastern Ndjiri swamp, called " Ngare 

 O'ssiram " by the Masai, after the small koodoo — O'ssi- 

 ram in the Masai language — which, in days gone by, 

 could be found about these swamps in large herds. 

 This neighborhood was for me terra cogiiita. I had ex- 

 plored it in 1899. There I pitched my tents, intend- 

 ing to make a long stop, to explore the country farther, 

 and to take as many pictures of animals as possible. 



