34 PREPARATIONS IN ZANZIBAR AND ON THE COAST 



courage, but also for violence, on Joseph Thomson's journey 

 through Masailand, and on account of the last-named quality 

 the rest of the guides had declared before we left Zanzibar that 

 they would not travel with him. But Count Teleki was very 

 anxious to secure him, and hit upon the expedient of placing 

 him to a certain extent on his own staff, so that he should not 

 have much to do with the rest of the men ; and with this the 

 other guides expressed themselves content. 



Maktubu certainly did at first prove himself to be a wild, 

 refractory fellow, a regular tiger when his will was crossed ; 

 but he found his match in Count Teleki, and, once mastered, 

 he became one of the most valuable men in our service, for 

 he far excelled every other guide we had. Of exceptional 

 physique, and with unrivalled powers of endurance, he was 

 reliable, energetic, full of resource, excelling all others in 

 obedience, ever ready to work, the first to begin, the last to go 

 to rest. 



I must also say a word for Ali Schaongwe, who, although 

 wanting in energy and unable to take the initiative, yet proved 

 himself honourable and reliable, faithfully carrying out the 

 duties he undertook. The rest of the guides — Bedue, Tom 

 Charles, Ali ben Omari, Nassi wadi Ferhan, and Meri — were, 

 with the exception of the last, none of them worth a charge of 

 powder. 



We had only engaged nine Askari, as we thought we could 

 add to their number from the main body of the caravan if 

 need were. We did not trouble to divide the Expedition into 

 sections, as we found the men sorted themselves, so to speak, 

 fellow-countrymen and friends consorting together, and gene- 

 rally keeping with each other throughout the trip. To each of 

 these groups, called Icambi, was given a copper cooking-pot, 

 varying in size according to their number, and one or more 

 axes for chopping wood, clearing the ground, &c. Water- 



