102 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT chap. 



Not wishing to be surprised by the natives while in 

 the forest, I told my hostages to lead us at once to the 

 villages, and assured them that we would do them no 

 harm, and that we had seized them simply for the pur- 

 pose of having them to guide us to their people ; for 

 which service, if satisfactorily performed, they would 

 receive a reward. They received these words with dull 

 indifference, and it required considerable persuasion on 

 our part to induce them to lead us onward. Hardly 

 had we gotten under way ere loud cries were heard, 

 and some fifty warriors, armed with spears, bows, and 

 arrows, appeared. Those who carried spears bore large, 

 painted oval shields on their arms, and many of them 

 had headdresses of monkey skins, or ostrich feathers 

 stuck in their hair. They approached until they reached 

 a point about fifty yards from us ; then halted, and eyed 

 us with curiosity and apprehension. They ceased their 

 shouting, and I took advantage of the silence (well 

 knowing it would be of short duration) to advance 

 toward them with a branch in my hand, — a sign of 

 peace throughout all East Africa, — and through my 

 interpreter endeavoured to persuade them of our peace- 

 able intentions, and induce them to lead us to their 

 villages. My efforts met with no success ; and begin- 

 ning to feel feverish from the effects of the chill I had 

 received a short time before, I decided there was no 

 time for useless parley ; so by a quick flank movement 

 we managed to seize four of the burliest warriors. 

 These we disarmed and promptly bound ; the rest fled 

 hastily in every direction. I placed these four hostages 

 in the rear of the caravan, and then instructed the old 

 men I had bound in front to lead the way. 



