284 RETURN FROM LAKE BARINGO TO THE COAST 



take a few slaves with them, but they are generally domestic 

 servants, not articles of barter. We were told that on the way 

 from the coast to Lake Barins^o, Addullah had bouo^ht some 

 200 slaves. They were most likely natives of Ukambani and 

 Kikuyuland, but it was impossible to get to the rights of the 

 matter as all our questions on the subject were evaded. 



As a matter of course, caravans trading in slaves as well as 

 ivory attract a great many more doubtful characters than those 

 buying ivory only, and we were therefore not at all surprised to 

 find several notorious persons amongst Addullah's people. Here, 

 for instance, was the well-known Sadi of Baron von der Decken, 

 New, and Thomson. Jumbe Kimemeta had pointed out the 

 man to us, so that we knew with whom we had to deal when 

 the grey-bearded old rascal humbly came to kiss our hands. 

 If Sadi had met with the recompense he so richly deserved, 

 he would not have been quite so ready to pay his respects to 

 another European. 



The dhurra was still unripe round Nyemps, and famine 

 was prevalent in Kamasia, so that we were entirely dependent 

 on our live stock for food. We were also compelled to kill 

 the oxen as soon as possible, as they were all suffering from 

 disease. Every day one or another succumbed, and only 

 portions of those we slaughtered were fit to eat, the whole of 

 the lungs and organs connected with them being converted 

 into a loathsome yellow pulp. SoNyemps had nothing to offer 

 us but rest and quiet, and our animals melted away like snow 

 beneath the mid-day sun. 



The dreary months now left behind us had all but exhausted 

 our powers of endurance. Our bodies, too, bore witness to all 

 we had undergone, and Count Teleki, who had weighed 2381b., 

 was now but little over 141 lb. We had no desire for further 

 adventures, and decided to go home. Consideration for our 

 brave little body of men necessitated the choosing of the easiest 



