472 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



At 6.30 of this day we set out for the coast. Four 

 of the Daitcho villagers accompanied us, and said they 

 were the vanguard of many of their brethren who 

 wished to follow us to Ukamibani to trade. 



Before destroying all my trading-goods, I had 

 divided the more valuable among my followers. My 

 Somali, who considered it beneath their dignity to 

 carry loads of any sort, foolishly entrusted seven 

 of the parcels I had given them to the four Daitcho 

 people who had accompanied us. When we reached 

 camp at night, they wTre filled with chagrin and fury, 

 upon finding that these natives had disappeared with 

 their property. The Somali wished me to return at 

 once to Daitcho, and lay the country waste with fire 

 and sword ; and were much grieved when I refused 

 to comply with their desire. 



On the second day out from Daitcho I met a party 

 of fifty Wakamba, who helped us to cross the Ura River; 

 in return for which I gave them a nice present. 

 They reported that the deserters had stolen all the 

 trading-goods I had left at Ukambani, and made off 

 with most of the goats, but left the more feeble of these 

 and all the donkeys in charge of Abdee Achmet, a 

 Somali, whom they brutally ill used because he refused 

 to join in the desertion. 



The following day I was forced to make but a short 

 march, and camp in the bed of a stream, because Ma- 

 homet Aman and George's tent-boy had disappeared. 

 Their companions, upon being questioned, said that 

 the two men had felt unwell, and had lain down under 

 a tree soon after leaving camp in the morning. How- 

 ever, they had not thought it worth the while to notify 



