IX 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



437 



loo yards from the shore, and between there rushed 

 a mighty torrent. 



I sent two of my best swimmers with letters for 

 George, placed in tightly corked bottles, which they 

 were to deliver at all hazards. In these letters I in- 

 structed George to fall back upon Ukambani, and if he 

 became ill on account of the rains, to retire to the 



Scene on the Tana 



mission station at Kibwezi. I then gave up all hope 

 of getting out of Daitcho for months. 



For a few days the rains did not descend with 

 much violence, and I hoped they were over. During 

 this period one of my men returned from the Tana, 

 and reported that the river was rapidly falling, and 

 that he expected George and his followers would soon 

 be able to cross. About sunset on November 15 

 a man came running to me, while I was in bed, cry- 



