A PRISONER 171 



my attention to the round German rosette, or 

 whatever it is, on his big felt hat. I realised right 

 enough then that the two men on my right, though 

 Dutch, were enemies ; they were two of the Dutch 

 settlers of Arusha. In all there were ten German 

 whites in the party that surrounded me, including 

 a doctor. They were quite decent, and several 

 of them complimented me on our trip. (" Sie 

 haben eine shone Patrouille gemacht ") " You have 

 made a fine patrol, but you made a mistake in 

 attacking our convoy. That was your downfall/' 

 they said. They had a snack of brown bread and 

 dripping and cold sausage in which I shared, 

 without being pressed, and we then set out for 

 the main German camp. The place where I was 

 captured was apparently about midway between 

 our camp and the German. " Don't try and run 

 away," said one of the Dutchmen. 



The German main camp, the headquarters of 

 Von Lettow himself, was a very big affair. Fires 

 stretched as far as the eye could see, and much 

 noise and singing by enormous numbers of porters 

 greeted the ear. I was taken to the doctor, and 

 had the wound in the hip dressed ; there was no 

 sign of gangrene or anything. " Sie haben gluck 

 gehabt," said the German doctor ; a fraction 

 nearer would have smashed the hip-bone. Then 

 to tea with the two Dutchmen, an odd German 

 being present on and off during the meal also. 

 Surely I had a great feed ! Fresh meat, rice, 

 sweet potatoes, and coffee. 



