170 TAVETA AND MOUNTS KILIMANJARO AND MERU 



tlie first sliot, and wounded a cock, which, however, got away, 

 with the second. The hen was very plump, and was eagerly 

 devoured by our men, but as it was the moulting season, the 

 skin was worthless. 



From the low hills we had a most beautiful view. The 

 forest of Taveta, bathed in warm sunshine, lay before us, and 

 from it rose up volumes of pale blue smoke, appealing to us 

 so eloquently and irresistibly that the hearts of our negroes 

 bounded within them. Their eyes shone with joy, and with 

 one accord they burst into a delighted shout of ' Taveta ! 

 Taveta ! ' as if they had come within sight of Heaven itself. 

 Gezilah, a coal-black half-caste Arab, was the most excited of all, 



as, with uplifted hands and 

 trembling voice, he gave 

 thanks to his God in the 

 words, ' Allah akbar ! La 

 illaila el Allah wa Muham- 

 med rasul Allah.' 



To the sound of the 

 usual firing with blank 

 cartridges we entered Ta- 

 veta about two o'clock. 

 The reception given us 

 hj the men we had left 

 behind was touching. One b}^ one they came, first to kiss our 

 hands, and then rushed to their comrades, seized their loads, 

 and carried them shouting into camp. We found our settle- 

 ment considerably enlarged and in first-rate order, Qualla 

 having proved himself thoroughly capable of managing every- 

 thing. The huts of the men, which were before in dangerous 

 proximity to the storehouse, had been moved back, and 

 stalls for the goats and poultry had been erected on the other 

 side, whilst in the open space in the centre of the camp 



Mi 



SNUFF-POUCHES OF NATIVES OF KILIMANJARO. 



