48 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



nearly twenty-four hours for its completion. It was 

 effected in the following manner. One of my men sat 

 in the stern of a canoe, and held the head of an animal 

 (camel, horse, or donkey) above water; two natives in 

 the bow propelled the canoe across the stream. By this 

 means all my animals were transported in safety. The 

 exercise incident to the superintendence of this cross- 

 ing did not improve my dysentery ; nevertheless, I was 

 forced to push on. Another deserter that day. 



The following day I reached Massa, opposite which 

 Lieutenant von Hohnel and the canoes were stationed. 

 Again one man deserted. This time the runaway took 

 with him a valuable load consisting of flannel and 

 blankets, which made a serious loss. Lieutenant von 

 Hohnel seemed to improve and do wxll in the canoes, 

 and reported that the natives were thoroughly friendly. 

 I sent two Somali and twenty-four men under Hamidi 

 back to our last camp to search on both sides of the 

 road for the lost load of flannel and blankets, which I 

 thought might have been thrown into the bush. I sent 

 this force, as rumours had reached me that a large war- 

 party was in the neighbourhood. 



The Pokomo at Massa are different from their breth- 

 ren inhabiting the lower portion of the Tana ; they are 

 smaller in stature, and speak a different dialect. From 

 all I could observe and learn, they have few character- 

 istic customs. Their fear of tempting Galla or Somali 

 raiders forces them to make it a rule never to keep live- 

 stock : if by chance they get a sheep or goat in trade, 

 they at once slay it. They cultivate their plantations 

 sufliciently to provide for their wants, and have, more- 

 over, stores of grain hidden away to avert famine, in 



