VI 



TRAVELS TN EASTERN AFRICA 



209 



three hours, during which we covered but four miles. 

 Hamidi and another headman did not reach camp at 

 all ; they were searching for deserters. As fast as we 

 caught the runaways, we tied them together in a line 

 with ropes, and placed them under the charge of the 

 Soudanese. I sent back two Somali to search for 

 deserters, and divided among my men two loads of 

 cloth as a present, for we could carry them no farther. 

 One of the runaways we had caught the day before 

 had found a tusk of ivory in the desert, worth perhaps 

 fifty-five dollars. In the rainy season this portion of the 

 Tana River must be almost infested with elephants. 



For two days more we struggled on in this fashion, 

 losing two men each day through desertions, until at 

 length we came to a point along the river where there 

 was one of our old resting-places. Here Hamidi turned 

 up with four captured deserters ; their loads, however, 

 could not be found. The runaway squad now tied 

 together consisted of eleven men. Four of the Sou- 

 danese were placed in charge of them, two on the 

 flank, and two in the rear. At night they were care- 

 fully watched, for it was only by unremitting vigilance 

 that we were able to frustrate their numerous attempts 

 at desertion. 



Of all difficulties connected with travel in East 

 Africa, desertion is perhaps the most serious ; and it 

 seems impossible to overcome it. Mr. Stanley, describ- 

 ing his last expedition, undertaken for the relief of 

 Emin Pasha, although his caravan consisted of Zanzi- 

 bari who had been carried by sea from Zanzibar to 

 the mouth of the Congo, thousands of miles from their 

 home, tells in his book, how throughout the entire 

 p 



