WE START FOR MOUNT MERU 



109 



listened to all that was put before us, and decided to send those 

 who wanted to go to Pangani to Mombasa, and vice versd. 

 Great was the astonishment and dismay amongst the men when 

 their several destinations became known, and although we had 

 carefully weeded out all whom we thought likely to run away, 

 we could not hope that every one would return to us. 



We decided to leave Taveta for a month, with the rest of 

 the men in good health, to pay a visit to Miriali and have a 

 look at Mount Meru. We had several other ends in view 

 besides exploration. It was necessary that we should make 

 friends with Miriali, as we should have to start from his terri- 

 tory for our proposed ascent of Kibo ; and we were also 

 anxious to get him to take charge of our donkeys and cattle, the 

 Taveta forest being most unsuitable and unhealthy for them. 

 Our visit to Mount Meru would also afford us an excellent 

 opportunity for buying pack-animals of the Wakwafi, who are 

 settled at its base in Aruslia-Wa-Ju, or Great Arusha. 



The caravan with which we left Taveta on April 12 con- 

 sisted of sixty-six porters and servants, whilst to guard our 

 camp and goods there remained behind only Qualla and a 

 dozen sick men. Jumbe Kimemeta, who, though very ill, would 

 not hear of being left behind, was carried with us in a 

 hammock. 



Our trip had been so hastily decided on that there was a 

 great deal left to do at the last minute, and the last of us did 

 not leave the camp till ten o'clock in the morning for the 

 rendezvous on the skirts of the wood. Our men had gone of!' 

 one by one as they were ready, and as none of them knew their 

 way through the wood, they most of them went astray. Some 

 one thousand and ninety-four yards only in a straight line from 

 the camp had to be crossed to reach the edge of the wood, 

 but it was four o'clock in the afternoon before we were all 

 together again. 



