VIII 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



333 



During our stay with the Rendile I had served out 

 to my men forty rounds of ammunition. As the 

 deserters were expert shots, they would be able to 

 supply themselves with game on the way, and after 

 reaching Hameye they could intimidate the Pokomo. 

 At Hameye, providing themselves with canoes, they 

 could easily float down-stream to the coast. With 

 the donkey saddles I had also left the two ivory 

 tusks taken from the elephant shot by Lieutenant 

 von Hohnel. These were worth about $150; and as 

 they were taken by these men, they would supply 

 them with means after reaching the coast to return 

 to Zanzibar. 



Our visit to the Rendile, except for the purpose of 

 discovery, and the interest which they had excited, 

 was anything but satisfactory. From the appearance 

 of these people, and the fact that they possessed 

 horses, our men had acquired a great dread of them, 

 and this undoubtedly increased the Zanzibari's willing- 

 ness to desert. However, I did not give up all hope 

 of catching Mohamadi. Knowing the Zanzibari char- 

 acter, I thought he would go straight to Daitcho, 

 inform Georo^e that he and his six men were the sole 

 survivors of our party, and endeavour to induce George 

 and the rest of the caravan to return to the coast. 

 Bearing this in mind, it seemed not only advisable, 

 but necessary, to return at once to Daitcho, not only 

 to relieve the mind of George, should Mohamadi have 

 told him some plausible story, but also in the hope 

 of capturing the deserters. Accordingly Lieutenant 

 von Hohnel set out the following day for Lolokwi, 

 where he was to wait until I returned, which I pro- 



