xix THROUGH SAMBURU LAND 245 



strong objection to doing anything outside the 

 ordinary safari routine. 



I remained alone on Quaithego for some little 

 time, sketching in the Guaso Nyiro and surrounding 

 features of interest, and then made my way down 

 the mountain on the western side, hoping that I 

 should find it not so steep; but in this I was disap- 

 pointed, as the going was even worse than I had ex- 

 perienced in the morning. 



As I had been told before leaving Nairobi that 

 the whole country between the Guaso Nyiro and 

 Marsabit was waterless, or practically so, I was rather 

 apprehensive of leading the safari into this un- 

 known nyika where they might perish of thirst, so 

 I had many an anxious consultation with my guides 

 as to the whereabouts of the waterholes. Papai 

 assured me that he would be able to lead me safely 

 through the wilderness, and that the only places 

 where there would be any difficulty would be from 

 the Guaso Nyiro to a place called Serah, and again 

 later on when we should have to cross the Kaisoot 

 Desert, and for both of these tracts camels would be 

 required. 



I sent therefore for the local chief who lived at a 

 village some three miles away from our camp at 

 Nyama Yangu, so that I might ask him if he would 

 supply me with camels for the journey to Serah, 

 as I knew he possessed a number of these animals 



