342 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



and very strong and enduring, but many of them extremely 

 wild and troublesome to pack. They are, no doubt, a near 

 relation of the wild ass. Their own country being a very dry 

 one, they do not suffer soon from thirst ; indeed, they seem to 

 drink less water than other donkeys, and understand digging 

 for it in the sandy river-beds with their feet. 



This caravan was under the leadership of a Reloochi, and 

 had been away from the coast about two }'ears already. Such 

 caravans are made up of a number of traders, each with his 

 own goods, porters, etc. They combine together for mutual 

 help and protection on long expeditions. The ivory trading is 

 carried out by the leader, each trader putting in goods in 

 proportion to his wealth into the general stock, the proceeds 

 being afterwards divided in like proportions. One of these 

 men, who had formerly been an askari in a caravan of the 

 I.B.E.A. Co. which I had been with years before, and who 

 remembered me, sent me a present of a fine fat goat. This 

 was the most disinterested present I ever received from 

 an African, for the giver knew there was no possibilit)' of 

 our meeting and consequently that he could receive no 

 return. 



By the most happy coincidence the last trace of the 

 aperture in my side — which had obstinately refused to unite 

 so long as the internal wound remained unhealed — finally 

 closed on the very day that Abdulla arrived with the last 

 instalment of our possessions from Kere ; and, to my intense 

 relief, a little more than three months after receiving the 

 injuries, I became externally whole once more. I was still 

 weak, and my battered chest and side sore and stiff; but I felt 

 so far sound, that not only did I feel confident of being able to 

 walk to the coast, but I determined to go on a few days ahead, 

 while Abdulla waited here with the main body, to have a look 

 for Lekwari's monster tuskers. 



Giving my headman instructions, then, to remain until he 

 should get word from me, in readiness to follow at once with 



