60 



FROM THE COAST TO KILIMANJARO 



arrival of a fresh caravan. However, he hastened to the 

 bridge with his Somal guard, to find the conflict at its fiercest. 

 The natives had broken down the bridge, and drawn back into 

 the village, from which they had driven out all our men, who, 

 though quite unprotected on the banks or in the river itself, 

 were returning their fire with interest. Supported b}^ Messrs. 

 Braun and Joost, who had hastened to the rescue, Count 

 Teleki, not Avithout great risk to his own life, at last suc- 

 ceeded in making the men stop firing, but not until there had 

 been many casualties. Two of our people were killed and two 

 seriously wounded, whilst seven of the natives were mortally 

 injured. Manwa Sera, who throughout kept his station at the 

 end of the bridge and continued firing into the village, escaped 

 unhurt ; and our people were so enraged and eager to go on 

 fighting that it was only when he threatened to shoot down 

 those who did not obey him that Count Teleki induced them 

 to cease firing and draw off. 



The natives now broke off all intercourse with our people, 

 and every day hundreds of armed men flocked into the village 

 to their aid, till there were thousands against us. Under these 

 threatening circumstances Count Teleki of course prepared 

 for further hostilities, the more reluctantly that there was 

 scarcely anything left to eat in his camp; but fortunately 

 Herr Braun managed to patch up a peace, and re-established 

 something of a semblance of friendliness between the two 

 parties. 



Count Teleki, who was eager to continue his journey, 

 determined, as there was now nothing to prevent it, to go on 

 the next day, but certain circumstances rendered it necessary 

 to divide the forces. General Matthews, eager to help us in 

 every way, had of his own free will bought a lot of things for 

 us which he thought would be useful ; but we had not yet 

 received them, for, thinking we should go to Masinde, the head- 



