II 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



69 



information concerning the Rendile and Galla tribes to 

 the north ; but these poor river people seemed to know 

 nothing of their surroundings or neighbours. They 

 spoke with fear of the Wakamba, and said that it would 

 be only a matter of a few years ere these dreaded war- 

 riors wiped the Tana Gallas off the face of the earth. 

 I never saw a people so convinced of their evil fate. 

 This hopelessness they attributed to the fact that they 

 had lost their holy book, of which I spoke in a former 

 chapter. 



The limit of navigation on the Tana is at a place 

 called Hameye, a short two days' march up the river. 

 At this point the British East African Company had at 

 one time erected a station, built by Commander Dun- 

 das, who had ascended the river in a stern-wheel 

 steamer. This station was now deserted, and we in- 

 tended to make it our camp for some time. We sent 

 our canoes on to Hameye, and two days' leisurely 

 marching brought us to a point on the river opposite 

 the station, which we found to be in capital repair. It 

 was defended by a strong log fence on three sides, the 

 fourth being sufficiently protected by the river. Here 

 a good building made of wattles and clay, and well- 

 thatched with dry grass, stood ready for the Europeans, 

 and there were a few huts for the porters. 



Hameye Station stands upon dry ground on the left 

 bank of the Tana. The river at this point is dotted 

 with many small islands well covered with tropical ver- 

 dure. Up-stream it widens out into a large lake fringed 

 with tall poplars, and literally filled with islets, between 

 which the Tana quietly and pleasantly ripples. I can 

 imagine few more charming places for a lengthened 



