ix OUR CAMP BY THE THIKA RIVER in 



lost for ever, so there is nothing to make a fuss 

 about." 



Having thus resigned myself as cheerfully as 

 possible to a cold and hungry night out in the 

 nyika, I dismounted and led my pony in the direction 

 of the river, wondering how on earth I was to get 

 him a drink, of which he stood sadly in need. 

 I feared that it would be impossible to get him 

 down to the water, as the banks were very high 

 and steep, but I hoped to be able to get enough 

 in my felt hat to satisfy his needs for the night. 

 While I was searching along the bank for a good 

 place to climb down to the water, to my great 

 delight I suddenly spied a native a little way 

 off. I saw that he had not observed me, and I 

 was afraid to shout to him lest he should be 

 frightened and run away. I therefore approached 

 him as closely as possible without speaking or mak- 

 ing any sound, and then called out "Yambo" 

 ("Greeting"). He looked somewhat startled and 

 seemed inclined to run away, but I reassured 

 him by signs that I meant him no harm, and 

 when I got up to him I made him understand, 

 although I could not speak a word of his 

 language, that I wanted to find the ford and 

 cross over to the other side. He was an in- 

 telligent fellow and readily understood what 

 was wanted, so we set off, and within a very 



