44 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



As a rule, the Pokomo were friendly and easily con- 

 vinced of our good intentions ; but at times we met with 

 difficulty in procuring guides. Along the banks of the 

 Tana, except at points where the natives had made 

 clearings, the forest growth was really picturesque and 

 imposing. The Pokomo have a slight knowledge of 

 irrigation, and in their little openings in the forest an 

 idea can be had of the productiveness of the soil, and 

 what might be accomplished by cultivation of the soil, if 

 European methods were in vogue. This, however, is 

 only in the immediate neighbourhood of the river; for at 

 distances varying from loo yards to one mile from the 

 banks of the river, the aspect changes into that of a 

 sandy desert, gleaming here and there with mica. Such 

 trees as are found on this desert are stunted mimosa 

 and aloes. 



Continued march brought us on September 30 to a 

 point on the river bank opposite the village of Kine- 

 kombe, which is the largest Pokomo village on the 

 Tana. The village contains about 500 conical-shaped 

 huts, covering a space of not less than forty acres. 

 It is surrounded by a strong hedge on the landward 

 sides, as a protection from attacking parties ; while the 

 steep clay banks of the river afford protection on the 

 water side. This is the only town of the Pokomo 

 which is able to repel the attacks of the raiding tribes ; 

 in consequence, cultivation of the surrounding planta- 

 tions is carried on extensively, and food is cheap and 

 plentiful. 



Here I found Mohamet Aman with my river column, 

 which had arrived in safety a few days before. Think- 

 ing we would follow the right bank, he had built a nice 



■A 



