IX 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



3«3 



The reader can well imagine my feelings upon 

 realizing the extent of the injuries sustained by Lieu- 

 tenant von Hohnel. Not only were we hundreds of 

 miles from the coast and a doctor, but most of our 

 store of medicine was at Daitcho, and what we had 

 with us was barely sufficient for a few days' treatment 

 of his wound. My skill in surgery was very meagre ; 

 and although Lieutenant von Hohnel (despite the 

 acute pain he was suffering) was able to direct in 

 what manner I should bind and dress the wound, I 

 was overcome with a sense of my impotence, and felt 

 that it was the irony of fate that my friend's life 

 should in great measure depend upon my unskilled 

 treatment of his wound. Of course, nothing remained 

 but to remove Lieutenant von Hohnel as quickly as 

 possible back to Daitcho. I feared the wound would 

 prove fatal, but he bore up so wonderfully, that it 

 seemed well worth trying to get him to the coast. 



That night we camped within a stone's throw of 

 where we had camped the preceding night — but 

 under what changed conditions ! When we left this 

 spot in the morning, our men had left their camp-fires 

 burning (contrary to orders). Fanned by the breeze, 

 these started a prairie fire, and for thousands of yards 

 around the spot the earth was black and charred. 

 Far across the desert a wall of flames could be seen 

 dancing in the twilight. It was on this charred 

 ground near the Sayer River that we pitched our 

 camp that night. Everything was done to make 

 Lieutenant von Hohnel as comfortable as possible ; 

 but with our rude equipment his sufferings were but 

 little allayed by the care and attention we bestowed. 



