286 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



donkey had given out. During that day and night 

 we lost five of these beasts. 



Just before sunrise we reached a dry and sandy 

 river-bed. My men threw their loads to the ground, 

 and one and all began to dig with their hands. 

 Soon shouts of joy were heard, for at a depth of 

 three feet water was found. This place our guide 

 called Lokoli. It is distant, in a straight line, twenty- 

 five miles from the camp we had left; but by the 

 winding road we were forced to follow we must have 

 traversed nearly ten more. At this point we rested 

 one day. 



We questioned our guide closely as to the where- 

 abouts of the Wanderobbo he had promised. He 

 then said that he was not sure of finding them, but 

 hoped to. He added that if they were not at Seran, 

 which we should reach in two days, there would be 

 nothing to do but return. The closest questioning 

 ended in the same response : " Seran." " If w^e got 

 to Seran, and there were no Wanderobbo there, we 

 must come back. From Seran on there is no water; 

 all is desert." 



" Did he know just where Seran was } " 



" Mayolo." (A Masai word meaning, I don't know.) 



" Did he know any other road in this direction 

 which was likely to lead either to the Wanderobbo 

 or the Rendile } " 



" Mayolo." 



From his frequent reiteration of this word we 

 dubbed him "Mayolo." 



Leaving Lokoli, six hours' sharp marching brought 

 us to a small water-hole called Lendovie. Our oruide 



