70 



FROM THE COAST TO KILIMANJARO 



they returned without having seen a trace of the fugitives, for 

 one crow does not peck out the eyes of another. Through this 

 delay in starting we got no farther in the next day's march, in 

 which we skirted along a small swamp, than to Buiko, a very 

 uncomfortable halting-place. From some of Count Teleki's 

 men .who were wandering about in the neighbourhood I heard, 

 however, that we were only an hour's journey from Miko- 

 cheni, the place appointed for our reunion, and as the Count 

 had already waited there four days, I started very early on 

 March 12 to join him. 



On March 1, the day he had left Korogwe, Count Teleki 

 had reached Kwa Sigi, where the path leaves the Pangani and 

 leads to the foot of the Usambara range. During the one night 

 the caravan halted there they were attacked by driver ants 

 (Anoonuna arceus) and put to night. It is astonishing what 

 havoc these little creatures can make when they attack in force. 

 As the cry of 4 Siufa ! ' or ants, rings through the camp nearly 

 everyone runs away, and it is always a long time before the few 

 who retain presence of mind enough to attack the enemy with 

 hot ashes and glowing embers restore tranquillity and the 

 night's rest can be resumed. 



The next day Count Teleki marched to Makuyuni, a beautiful 

 and fertile district, which he reached at 4 o'clock in the after- 

 noon. One of the little streams with which it is watered was 

 full of leeches, and directly the men stepped into it dozens of 

 these creatures attached themselves to the poor fellows' bare 

 legs. From Makuyuni the caravan pushed on through a swampy 

 tract to Mombo, where a midday halt was made beneath the 

 shade of fine trees, chiefly euphorbia and fan palms. The camp 

 was soon surrounded by men and women, who brought food for 

 sale. Oxen and sheep were also offered, and Count Teleki 

 bought several animals for actual money, a cow costing from 

 thirteen to eighteen dollars, and a goat from four to six rupees. 



