162 WAR: CAMPAIGNING IN EAST AFRICA 



halt of a great number of porters, who were all 

 singing and clapping their hands. 



Stepping into the road, we walked up towards 

 them. As usual, with our felt hats (I always 

 wore a beard too), we were mistaken for Germans. 

 An askari guard, jumping up from the side of the 

 road, saluted me with N Jambo Bwana." " Jambo 

 Askari/' I replied, and then in execrable Swahili, 

 " Why do you not clean your rifle ? " taking it at 

 the same time from the astonished-looking man. 

 He was at once put in charge of one of our two 

 askaris, and with the other I started after the long 

 line of porters, who were now swinging away up 

 the road with their loads. Shouting and cursing 

 at them in German, I got these puzzled fellows to 

 turn back with their loads, while Lewis and 

 Brown, stopping the porters as they came back, 

 made a big fire and kept throwing the loads on to 

 it as they arrived. As fast as the porters were 

 relieved of their loads, they were made to collect 

 more and more wood for the bonfire. There were 

 loads of various things : clothing from Europe, 

 cases of schnapps and vinegar, bags of rice, beans, 

 flour, and other native foods, also about twenty 

 loads of sugar. 



After going up about a mile, I found there was 

 a break in the line of porters, but by shouting I 

 got some of those who were still in front to turn 

 back with their loads. Then came another break, 

 and by that time, being over a mile up the road 

 away from Brown and Lewis, I got frightened, and 



