VII 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



273 



and that as yet only pioneers were necessary — men 

 who should travel through the country and build 

 roads. To a great extent this is true ; but there is 

 no reason why men possessed of the will, if not of 

 the most transcendent ability, should not endeavour to 

 add their modicum to a more comprehensive knowl- 

 edge of countries heretofore unknown. 



On the evening of June 14 we reached the forda- 

 ble point of the Guaso Nyiro. It is about four miles 

 to the northwest of Mount Chabba. On the opposite 

 bank the land rises to the height of 1000 feet above 

 the surface of the stream which washes its base. 

 There it is only thirty yards wide and but five feet 

 deep ; but the current, swollen by the recent rains, 

 flowed with great rapidity between its steep banks. 

 Two more donkeys died there ; and, as we were una- 

 ble to carry the loads of food they had borne, we 

 buried the loads, four in number, in a secure hiding- 

 place among the rocks, trusting they would prove of 

 service to us upon our return journey. We spent 

 one day on the banks of the Guaso Nyiro, and 

 greatly enjoyed bathing in the river. It was undoubt- 

 edly well filled with crocodiles ; but the soothing 

 murmur and cool swirl of the waters wooed us from 

 caution, and without hesitation we plunged several 

 times into the stream ; happily, with no ill result. 



The following day we crossed the river, followed 

 along its left bank a distance of four miles, and then 

 made camp. There another donkey and several goats 

 died. In the afternoon I took a soup-plate, and 

 spent two hours washing for gold in the sands on 

 the river bank. Perhaps it was owing to my inex- 



T 



