II 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



43 



just partaken of, or looked forward to with expectation. 

 Occasionally an obstacle was encountered by the cara- 

 van, and then the even, and I might say almost solemn, 

 movement was at once broken. The camels were 

 forced to kneel, bellowing forth the while their displeas- 

 ure at such an indignity ; the donkeys ran hither and 

 thither among the loads thrown down by the men; 

 shouts, curses, and blows from the ever-ready stick filled 

 the air, and the pandemonium continued until the diffi- 

 culty — whether river, hill, thicket, or forest — had been 

 surmounted and passed, when the caravan again swung 

 into its accustomed smooth and noiseless movement 

 toward its goal. 



At times the guides proved very poorly informed as to 

 the route, and led us through tangled masses of mimosa, 

 aloes, and creeping vines. In such cases the axes were 

 in constant requisition; and in consequence, often for 

 hours at a time, our progress was dismally slow. 



During the afternoon of this day we encamped on the 

 banks of the river. As it was customary to pitch our 

 tents under tall trees in the cool of the evening, with the 

 knowledge that a certain portion of the distance had 

 been covered, our minds were filled with pleasant 

 thoughts (despite the fact that Lieutenant von Hohnel 

 was suffering greatly from his feet), when turned to the 

 distance yet to be accomplished before reaching Kine- 

 kombe — the point at which we were to find the canoes. 

 One of the canoes contained what we regarded as pre- 

 cious freight, — ninety-six bottles of Tennent's Pilsner 

 beer, — the thought of which acted as a tonic to our 

 spirits, and lent energy to our tired feet while on the 

 march. 



