A FRESH START 229 



was then well behind the column. Not knowing 

 the result of the fighting at Mweri, we were fright- 

 ened to cut in too high for fear the column might 

 have had a check. 



It was just five weeks since we had started from 

 Meja, and the expedition with its hardships had 

 proved disappointing and unsatisfactory. Not 

 that such reflections prevented us thoroughly 

 enjoying a meal of tea, jam, and biscuits after the 

 long spell on nigger tucker. The doctor at the 

 field hospital collared the expostulating Lewis, 

 who, despite his assertions to the contrary, was 

 really in a high fever. Next morning I went up 

 alone to Mweri by car, where I found, to my 

 disgust, that owing to the alarmist reports of our 

 returned porters, and our delayed return, we had 

 both been officially posted as " missing " some 

 weeks earlier. Lewis was soon sent down to the 

 Pemba hospital, and from that time till the end 

 I worked always by myself. 



At Mweri I was just in time to report to the 

 C.I.O., " Pamforce," and to see General Edwards, 

 who took me on the staff, which was hurrying to 

 catch up the troops then pushing ahead towards 

 Maria. " Pamforce M now consisted of two 

 columns, one under Colonel Rose and the second 

 under Colonel Gifford ; General Edwards, whom 

 I got to like very much, and whom I always found 

 most considerate, being in charge of the whole 

 force. That evening we were in time to join up 

 with Colonel Rose's column, which had been held 



