78 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



Followed by Quasso carrying my water-bottle filled with 

 cold tea, I made excursions every day to the south in search 

 of open water. xA.t last I was rewarded with the sight of a 

 fine expanse. It was the water of the Kowa-Baga, and some 

 800 yards off I saw a group of fishermen sitting mending 

 their nets. A feehng of great content came over me when I 

 realised that the weary days of my search were over and 

 my struggles had not been in vain. I dared not advance a 

 step nearer for fear of disturbing the Budumas, and I turned 

 to retrace my steps, happy in the consciousness of the precious 

 secret I possessed. Once past all danger of being observed, I 

 quickened my pace, and as with eager steps I wended my 

 way back along the dark forbidding maria-belts, I laughed, 

 for their terrors for me were over. 



On my arrival in camp I was annoyed to find that one of 

 the carriers had come in without his load, a very important 

 one consisting of our anchors. He said that he had been 

 charged by an elephant, so dropped his load and ran through 

 the darkness into camp. The next day a search was made 

 through the long grass, but the anchors could nowhere be 

 found. In the meantime, the man, fearing the consequences, 

 ran away. The loss was a great blow to me and marred 

 to a great extent the satisfaction I had experienced the day 

 before. 



When all the sections had arrived in camp, I left them to 

 take care of themselves and returned to Kaddai, as it was 

 necessary to organise another journey in search of food for 

 the " boys," who had done grand work and shown great 

 devotion to me. They were thoroughly tired out and a rest 

 for a few days was imperative, so I sat down at Kaddai 



