NO WATER ANYWHERE 



65 



saw a solitary giraffe or Beisa antelope, botli thorough children 

 of the desert, whose presence bore witness to anything rather 

 than the existence of plenty of water. We also saw a new 

 variety of gazelle, which so much resembled a giraffe in its long- 

 neck and sloping haunches that we named it the giraffe-ante- 

 lope.-^ Later we came uj)on several rhinoceroses, and the 

 Count brought down two without leaving the path. 



An interesting geological detail we noted on this march was 

 the occurrence of hills of a pure white stone (quartz or lime- 

 stone) which gleamed in the sunshine like freshly fallen snow. 

 Their appearance suggested the possibility of there being gold 

 here, but they were all away from the path, and the haste 

 with which we had to press on made any examination im- 

 possible. We thought we would have another look at them 

 after we reached the camping-place, which could not be far off 

 now. 



But three o'clock came, then four o'clock, then sunset, and 

 we were not yet there. Many of the porters and donkeys could 

 scarcely drag themselves along, and the goats and sheep showed 

 signs of terrible suffering from thirst, breaking, however, every 

 now and then into a despairing gallop. I turned to Barnoti, 

 who was now in the rear, carrying on his shoulders two fine 

 elephant tusks which the Count had found by the way, and said 

 to him. 



' Barnoti, wherever is this water ? ' 



' Meata ngare tata ' (' we shall get no water to-day ') was the 

 prompt but most disheartening reply from Barnoti, who looked 

 cheerful as ever. 



Soon afterwards I joined Count Teleki and Baringo at the 

 head of the caravan. It now turned out that the old fellow 

 really knew nothing about the way, and had merely been follow- 

 ing the channel of the stream in the hope of coming to water. 



^ It was the Gazelle Wallerii Brooke. 

 VOL. II. p 



