CHAPTER VI 



THE SURVEY CONriNDED TO MAIEONI 



{Written hy Mr. P. A. Talbot) 



We were now in a land of plenty, for besides tlie stores tliere 

 was plenty of fresh milk and vegetables, sucli as a kind of 

 pumpkin, the rind of which when old forms calabashes — 

 but which, when young, tastes almost like vegetable marrow. 

 There were also nuts, some of which tasted very hke broad 

 beans, others hke small sweet potatoes. By the river grew 

 a great many date-trees, though their fruit was not yet ripe, 

 and a sort of wild spinach abounded. 



Alexander's talent in the arrangement of menus now 

 shone forth with particular brilliancy, though it was perhaps 

 more remarkable and the more appreciated in times of 

 dearth, when he succeeded in getting the cooks to make, 

 under his orders, tasty dishes out of the commonest and 

 scantiest ingredients. 



Alexander now decided to go by the main road to Gujba, 

 where he wanted to see the Resident and arrange about the 

 transport of the boats and goods to the Yo river. I was, 

 in the meantime, to go to the needle-point peak which we 

 had seen from Bagi Hill, and thence if possible towards 

 Gujba, to meet him. 



With about twenty carriers and three soldiers I left for 

 Gulani, a town said to he south-east of Ashaka, and therefore 



