316 



TO KEXIA 



tobacco, and so on. The native tracks lead straight over the 

 hills without any detours to break the steepness of the ascent, 

 so that it was hard work, especially for the donkeys, and we 

 were often delayed for hours in crossing some brook. In fact, 

 it is difficult to give any idea of the arduousness of the march 

 on this day. We advanced perhaps ten steps, then stopped for 

 two minutes, got forward another five paces, and halted for 

 ten minutes. In single file and close together we struggled on 

 for from five to seven hours, only to accomplish a very few 

 miles, and all the time we were harassed by hundreds of natives. 

 Of course Count Teleki, at the head of the caravan, had the 

 worst of it, for he had to cleave his way through the natives, 

 who always gathered in force at the streams, where, after 

 terribly tedious delays, they had to be mollified with presents. 

 Sometimes, however, peaceable means failed, when there was 

 nothing for it but to put aside the spears barring the passage, 

 and press fearlessly on. Often and often it seemed as if a fight 

 could not be avoided. 



We camped safely this time, however, but had to abandon 

 all hope that we should achieve our journey without difficulty, 

 for we were little more than prisoners, so surrounded were we 

 with ever-increasing crowds of natives, whose hostility to us 

 was unmistakable. We were still, however, determined not to 

 give in, and had we turned back there is no doubt that it would 

 have been the signal for an attack. We must hold our heads 

 high and assume a confidence we were far from feeling if we 

 were ever to get to Mount Kenia. Originally we had imagined 

 that it would take us eight days to cross Kikuyuland, but here 

 we were, on September 12, after three inarches, still, so our 

 guide told us, ten days' journey from our goal. And I became 

 more ill every day, whilst inflammation set in in the wound on 

 my face, causing me much suffering. We both had a great 

 deal to bear on this part of our expedition. 



