104 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



frenzy, that, throwing caution to the winds, they would 

 have courage or recklessness sufficient to attack us. 



Upon setting out in the morning I had served out 

 twenty-five rounds of ammunition to each man ; so that 

 even with my small force, should my men have profited 

 in the least by the gun practice I had given them at the 

 coast, we felt quite able to hold our own against even 

 the vastly superior force of the natives. But the behav- 

 iour of my men did not inspire me with great confidence. 

 We had passed several herds of goats on the way from 

 the forest, and this had excited the cupidity of the Sou- 

 danese to such an extent that they appeared warlike 

 enough, and only too desirous of a scrimmage. On the 

 other hand, the Zanzibari stood around in a lethargic 

 manner, their faces wearing expressions of dull appre- 

 hension and helpless terror — seemingly stunned by 

 the presence of so many warriors and their threaten- 

 ing shouts. 



In the midst of this excitement there appeared a man 

 about thirty-six years old, wearing a short cloak of goat's 

 skin over his shoulders, and bearing a long staff in his 

 right hand. He spoke contemptuously to the natives 

 about him, and then addressed Lieutenant von Hohnel 

 in excellent Swahili. There was no time for parley ; 

 natives were gathering from all sides, and Lieutenant 

 von Hohnel knew that soon, gathering courage from 

 overwhelming numbers, the natives would attack us. 

 So without hesitation he persuaded the new-comer to 

 accompany us to our camp, which he somewhat unwill- 

 ingly agreed to do. We thereupon released the hos- 

 tages, and gave each a small present. This reward filled 

 them with surprise, but they evinced little gratitude. 



