76 



THE DISCOVERY OF LAKE EUDOLF 



cattle and cereals ; but at the same time we were warned that 

 we should find these Eeshiat treacherous. 



The other route would take us in a north-easterly direction 

 from five to seven days' journey through an uninhabited portion 

 of Samburu to Marsabit, the head-quarters of the Burkeneji, 

 whence the path would lead to a little lake called the Basso 

 Ebor or White Lake ; but that was a very long way off, and 

 no one knew how many days it would take to get there, as it 

 would depend entirely on the water conditions at the time. 

 Cattle, goats, sheep, camels, and even horses, the two latter 

 amongst the Eandile only, we should find in plenty in Samburu, 

 but no cereals. To make up for this we might hope for good 

 hunting, especially at Marsabit, the neighbourhood of which is 

 the rendezvous of all manner of wild animals. 



In view of the unfavourable water conditions then preva.il- 

 ing in Samburu, the Count was not long in coming to a decision, 

 and he elected to go by way of the Basso Narok to the 

 Eeshiat. 



On the morning of February 29 our old guide Baringo, 

 whom we had lost five days ago, suddenly appeared in camp, 

 his appearance betraying how terribly he had suffered. It will 

 be remembered that he had left Maktubu and the men to rest 

 whilst he went in the direction of the Ceneral Matthews chain to 

 seek a better path. He had sat down by the way and fallen 

 asleep, not waking again till sunset. He went on to say that 

 he was so terrified at finding himself alone in the wilderness that 

 he altogether lost his bearings. For two days he wandered 

 about, and then he came upon our water-holes, where he 

 quenched his thirst and rested a little. He then found and 

 followed our track, and was indeed glad to be with us again. 

 He had had nothing but gum to eat all the time of his absence. 



During our halt at the southern base of Mount Nyiro, we 

 had a very successful elephant hunt.- When we first reached 



