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TRAVELS m EASTERN- AFRICA 



339 



most approved manner of thugs. About the person 

 and in the hands of each were six effective slung- 

 shots, consisting of heavy stones bound to a leathern 

 thong. Doubtless their purpose was robbery, and it 

 was entirely owing to the watchfulness of our pickets 

 that their capture was the only result of their visit. 



Of course, they denied all evil intention ; but on 

 the following day, after calling up the headmen of the 

 Daitcho, we discovered that they were not members 

 of that tribe, but, undoubtedly, were Embe. The 



Men playing Cards in Camp 



headmen assured us that the presence of these men 

 in the Daitcho country at that time of night was 

 proof, to them at least, that they had not come on a 

 mission of benevolence. We stripped them of their 

 weapons, and sent them back as a warning to their 

 people. 



On Monday, July 24, I set out, accompanied by 

 eighteen porters, Karscho, my gun-bearer, and my 

 two tent-boys, to rejoin Lieutenant von Hohnel at 

 Lolokwi. On parting at Seran, I had promised to 

 rejoin him there in fifteen days; and as I had, when 

 setting out from Daitcho, seven days still remaining, 



