212 WAR: CAMPAIGNING IN EAST AFRICA 



the war, and in latter years had made its head- 

 quarters in the Nicoque district, where the big 

 granite hills, covered with boulders and scrub, 

 made a series of impenetrable retreats. Its 

 victims must be estimated during these years as 

 running well into three figures, mostly women 

 and children. No wonder the natives were 

 afraid to stir out of their huts at night, or even 

 to go anywhere alone in the daytime. To travel 

 after nightfall through the Nicoque district was 

 indeed in those days to walk through " the valley 

 of the shadow of death M — Death, spotted and 

 whiskered, stalking its victims on those silent 

 pads of velvet, with glaring eyes and swishing tail. 

 Trouble, as usual, was not to come singly ; in 

 the morning, two days after my injured com- 

 panion had been sent away, the enemy rushed 

 our camp, the local natives having led a party 

 of the nth and 17th Companies, with two maxims, 

 through the bush from Mweri, guiding them 

 through our three pickets. We were nearly caught, 

 but just escaped in time, thanks to getting a few 

 seconds' warning ; for the enemy, for some reason, 

 began the attack in a rather spectacular manner 

 by blowing bugles and opening fire from the two 

 machine guns. We put up a very poor show, and 

 lost all our camp and belongings — everything, in 

 fact, except our rifles and bandoliers. Luckily, 

 all my askaris got away, and the enemy captured 

 only one old, sick porter. In the scramble and 

 confusion in the bush we managed to take a 



