150 TAVETA AND MOUNTS KILIMANJARO AND MERIT 



At half-past ten the next morning — the rain prevented my 

 starting earlier — I was off down the mountain, accompanied by 

 fourteen men. I soon out-distanced my comrades, and reached 

 the camp in two hours and a half, where my sudden appearance 

 alone and covered with mud roused the greatest apprehension, 

 till my joyful 6 Yambo ! ' relieved all anxiety. 



I soon enough found that we could not possibly go to 

 Arusha-wa-ju — where a very large hongo would have to be 

 paid — with what we had with us, so there was nothing for it 

 but for me to collect what was actually needed on the 

 mountain and return at once. I could not, however, get off 

 before half-past three. 



We had no further trouble with Meru ceremonies, but the 

 people of the settlement had to make an opening to let in the 

 cattle I brought with me. At the door I met Mhoke, with a 

 letter for me from Count Teleki, telling me to be sure and bring 

 some rockets with me. Of course the Count could not know 

 whether I should or should not be bringing the whole caravan 

 with me. This letter, which rather took me > aback, also begged 

 me to return as quickly as possible, as there was danger ahead. 

 Of course I urged all possible speed on the men now, but the 

 pouring rain made the loamy path so slippery that the heavily 

 laden porters could only get on slowly, and, moreover, it soon 

 became so dark that each man could barely see the one in front 

 of him. So it was eight o'clock before we reached the camp, 

 where, however, I was thankful to find all well. 



The natives really had tried to turn my absence to account 

 by exacting a large tribute from Count Teleki, but this after- 

 thought was merely the result of Mhoke's nervousness. Soon 

 after I left, Matunda had come, with his wife, to pay the Count a 

 visit. This wife really was a beautiful creature, with regular 

 features and sparkling eyes ; she was a very decided coquette, 

 which, by the way, is a rare thing with native women. Teleki 



