X 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



473 



me of this fact ; so I had marched for hours before be- 

 coming aware of the absence of these men. This trait 

 of secrecy among the negroes of Africa — the firmly 

 impressed characteristic of never volunteering informa- 

 tion of any sort, no matter how important or interesting 

 — greatly increases the difficulty experienced in deal- 

 ing with them. Of course, as soon as I became aware 

 of the absence of these two men, I halted the caravan 

 and sent back for them. They did not reach camp 

 until late that night, and came in looking the picture 

 of woe. I do not think they were really ill, but the 

 loss of their goods so filled their minds that they 

 sought occasion to return to Daitcho and recover 

 them. 



That night many hyenas howled about our camp, 

 and toward morning the air resounded with a curious 

 cry, something like the bleating of a goat. I did not 

 hear this until I was awakened by one of the Somali, 

 who told me that the noise was cause by a " shaitan " 

 (devil) of the most evil propensities, and that it boded 

 no good for the caravan. I frankly told him to go 

 to the devil, and not disturb me ; whereupon he 

 retired, and soon devoted all his energies and the 

 power of his lungs to chanting the few verses of the 

 Koran with which he was acquainted, in order to 

 overcome the machinations of the Evil One. It was 

 in vain that I assured him that the noises were 

 caused by a bird of some kind, or a young monkey. 

 He shook his head, said he knew better, and added 

 that in all probability a few days hence not one of 

 us would be found alive. I looked at my watch 

 and saw that it was three o'clock ; and as I intended 



