154 ALONG LAKE EUDOLF 



but a short time ago. By three o'clock in the afternoon the 

 bed of the brook was again ahnost dry, and we were able to 

 set to work to recover the loads which had floated away. We 

 found several of them from 500 to 1,000 paces down stream ; 

 many were quite spoilt, including an entire load of dried and 

 pressed plants, but nothing was actually lost. The rapidity 

 with which the channels of streams fill up, to contain perhaps 

 a few hours later only a little damp sand, is one of the most 

 remarkable phenomena of the tropics. 



We employed the rest of the day in drying our wet pro- 

 perty, and Qualla was sent again to the Eeshiat with forty men. 

 This time the natives showed more interest in them. Old men, 

 warriors, and women came out in great numbers, all behaving 

 in a perfectly fearless but quiet and modest manner. Herds 

 of cattle and troops of donkeys grazed about as before, and the 

 natives showed absolutely no signs of suspicion. Again they 

 declined our peace offerings, but sold a little dhurra to our 

 men, telling them to go home now and come back with the 

 whole caravan. 



Wednesday, April 4. — We had escaped rain in the camp 

 during the past night, but the bed of the stream was again full 

 of a rushing, foaming flood, so that it had evidently been raining 

 heavily higher up. Full of delight at beginning our last march 

 by the lake, we were off early, our men crying ' Hurrah ! ' and 

 ' Haya ugali !' as they shouldered their loads. We should have 

 shouted ourselves if previous experiences had not taught us 

 caution, and in spite of the assurances we had received of the 

 friendly disposition of the Eeshiat, we did not neglect certain 

 customary precautions. The axes were given out to the van- 

 guard, and they were told to begin making the fence directly 

 we reached the camping-place, whilst the rest of the men were 

 warned to be on their guard and have their weapons in readiness. 



We first crossed a pretty little acacia wood with fresh 



