TRAVELLING UNDER DIFFICULTIES 



cold — and never did I see such a display of electric 

 phenomena as during those stormy nights. 



The most terrible equatorial storm which I weathered 

 raged one night when I travelled in British East Africa, 

 on the "great divide" between the Victoria Nyanza and 

 the Indian Ocean. And never shall I forget it. Added 

 to the terrors of the storm was the constant fear of a 

 surprise by the natives, who at that time molested 

 the caravan road, which since then has been supplanted 

 by a railroad. Since the English government could not 

 police the whole country, it limited itself to protecting 

 that road. The officer in command at Fort Nandi could 

 spare me only eight Sudanese Askari. One night we 

 were encamped near the road, when suddenly a violent 

 thunder-storm began to rage, flooding our camp in no 

 time, and carrying off part of my cattle, the young 

 calves, besides other things. At the same time a ter- 

 rific whirlwind uprooted our tents. We found but 

 scanty shelter under the wet linen. Drenched to the 

 skin and chilled to the marrow, we nestled together to 

 keep warm. The display of electricity was fearful and 

 grand. The whole atmosphere was charged with it. 

 The artillery of heaven was cannonading ceaselessly; 

 one flash followed the other, accompanied by mighty 

 peals of thunder, and the rain poured down in torrents. 

 When it was all over most of my collection was gone or 

 spoiled. 



The loss of the calves meant a great deal to me. I 



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