xvi ACROSS TO THE GUASO NYIRO 209 



by the porters, more than a precious load of beans 

 which they were carrying as posho for the men. 

 This stream of food continued until I reached camp, 

 and when I found out who the culprit was he calmly 

 told me he hadn't noticed it. As it was a very serious 

 matter to allow our food to be wasted in this careless 

 fashion in the wilderness, I had the rascal severely 

 punished and put on half-rations for a week. This 

 effectually stopped any further leakage of supplies 

 throughout the journey. At our camp by the 

 Rumathe we found a very fine spring of good 

 water, which is permanent and capable of sup- 

 plying any number of men and beasts through- 

 out the year. I panned some sand from the 

 bed of the Rumathe, and from several other river- 

 beds, for gold, but unfortunately never got so much 

 as a " colour." 



From this place we continued our journey, 

 through bush and across many ravines, until we 

 struck the Guaso Nyiro again. On the way we 

 saw plenty of Grant's gazelle, Thomson's gazelle, 

 oryx, impala, and water buck, also a rhino and a 

 leopard. 



This march was a very trying one, as there was 

 neither water nor shade to be had on the way, 

 and the heat was very great. All, therefore, were 

 delighted when at last the river was reached, and 



