BRITISH EAST AFRICA 221 



It was an abominable spot, this dry ravine of 

 fiery heat. The water in the wagon drums was 

 running very short, and it was therefore with 

 considerable relief that we at last heard Elmi 

 return and shout the comforting word " maji ! " 

 (water !). In truth, there was very little of it, 

 but such as there was sufficed to appease the 

 thirsty " safari " for a time, and in the afternoon 

 we travelled on again. 



At dusk we reached a little flowing stream. 

 It was a most sorry apology for a rivulet, but it 

 was the first trickle of running water that we 

 had seen for several days, and its appearance was 

 in refreshing contrast to the few dirty, muddy 

 pools along the line of march from Kijabe. 



The next day we reached the broader waters 

 of Ongorra Narok. It was close to this river, 

 which boasts of a full-blooded Masai name, that 

 I had an uncomfortable experience with that 

 diabolical thing the " jigger flea." 



I had been stalking some Thomson's gazelle, 

 and a long thorn had run into the side of one of 

 my canvas boots. I had pulled the thorn out 

 of my foot and was just putting my sock on 

 again when I heard an exclamation from Elmi. 

 The next instant he was kneeling by my side and 

 pointed with the thorn to my big toe. " This 

 very bad, sir," he muttered, and I then for the 

 first time noticed a peculiar round and ball- 

 shaped swelling by the side of the nail. 

 Instantly it flashed across my mind what this 

 curious protuberance signified. 



" Jigger? " I queried. 



" Yes," answered Elmi. " Jigger. Him very 

 bad. Take him out quick," and forthwith he 

 dug out the bag of flea eggs with the thorn, 

 leaving a big hole which pained considerably. 



