V 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



201 



US. After a short but sharp conflict they were dis- 

 persed. The air was filled with the sound of whizzing 

 arrows and branches crackling, as they were broken by 

 the hurtling stones. However, the aim of the natives 

 was not accurate, and no one of our band was hit. 



Just before nine o'clock we emerged from the bush, 

 and saw stretched at our feet the plain, across which we 

 could faintly discern the dark-green line showing the 

 course of the Mackenzie. As we entered upon this 

 open plain, we gave vent to three hearty cheers. In 

 the open country we felt capable of dealing with any 

 number of savages. From the frontier of the Embe 

 country we could see a small cone near our last camp 

 on the Mackenzie River; so without delay we headed 

 in that direction. 



The grass on the eastern slopes of the Jombeni range 

 grows to a great height, and we had the utmost diffi- 

 culty in forcing our way through it. Moreover, the 

 sides of the mountain were cut up with innumerable 

 deep and dried watercourses, which so hindered our 

 march that it was 5 p.m. (eleven hours) from the time 

 we left our camp until we reached our old zeriba. We 

 were completely worn out, and went to sleep without 

 so much as setting a night-watch. 



We knew that we had sufficient grain to last us 

 throughout the march to Hameye, but not sufficient 

 to permit us to spend much time on the march ; so 

 we set out on the next day. 



Our march back to Hameye was uneventful. We 

 succeeded in killing some zebra and antelope, which 

 proved a welcome addition to our diet. Upon reach- 

 ing the mouth of the Mackenzie, we found a large party 



