Ill 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



91 



We had decided to follow the Mackenzie, in the hope 

 that it would lead us to Lake Lorian and the Rendile ; 

 therefore, after waiting one day for the drying of the 

 meat, we set out, and pushed our way along the left 

 bank of this river. The route lay over rough, rocky 

 soil, covered to an irritating degree with acacias. In 

 order that we might be able to march as lightly as 

 possible, we had taken for private consumption only 

 a few luxuries. We depended upon two loads for the 

 sustenance of the Europeans. These contained dried 

 beans and rice. On coming into camp after our first 

 day's march along the Mackenzie, what was our dis- 

 gust to find that the two men carrying these loads 

 had disappeared ! We searched for them in vain ; for, 

 owing to the rocky soil, tracking them was impossible. 

 From that time on we had to face the journey with 

 the prospect of living upon the same food as the 

 porters ; namely, dried beans of the previous year's 

 growth and Indian corn of the same age. Thankful, 

 indeed, were we that we had with us salt, pepper, 

 and one bottle of Worcestershire sauce. When the 

 latter would get low, we refilled the bottle with water; 

 and by lively play of the imagination taught ourselves 

 that the pungency of its flavour rather increased than 

 diminished, as time went by, and water went in. 



As we ascended the Mackenzie, the stream became 

 smaller and smaller, and after two days' march one could 

 almost leap across it. The water was clear as crystal, 

 and deliciously cool. Owing to the dense bush through 

 which we marched we could get but few shots at 

 game, although at this point the country was undoubt- 

 edly filled with animals of all sorts. Now, for the first 



