I 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



27 



distinctive characteristics, and need have no special 

 mention. 



On August 24, 1892, Lieutenant von Hohnel arrived 

 by steamer from Kismayu, bringing with him 15 camels 

 and 10 fine oxen capable of bearing burdens. He had 

 found Kismayu and the natives thereof in an excited 

 state, and the reception accorded him was anything but 

 friendly. The cause of this was soon made manifest. 

 A Somali named Jama Yusuf, who had formerly served 

 Count Teleki and Lieutenant von Hohnel, but who was 

 at this time employed as court interpreter at Mombasa, 

 had sent a letter to the chiefs at Kismayu, warning them 

 against us, and advising them to hinder our entrance 

 into the country as far as lay in their power. Lieuten- 

 ant von Hohnel, however, allayed their fears, and besides 

 the purchase of the animals above mentioned, acquired 

 some interesting information in regard to the country 

 lying to the westward of Kismayu. 



Before the return of Lieutenant von Hohnel, life in 

 camp at Mkonumbi had begun to assume a busy as- 

 pect. I divided my porters into three companies, and, 

 in order to render them accustomed to the w^ord of com- 

 mand, put them through simple drills daily. After a 

 few days of this work I set about giving them instruc- 

 tion in the use of their rifles, as but few had the slightest 

 conception of the nature and purposes of the weapons. 

 It took days before I could teach most of them the use 

 of the sights. At the beginning many were actually 

 unable to close but one eye ; for, after closing one, the 

 eyelid of the other invariably drooped until that eye too 

 was shut ; and to the very end of the expedition some 

 two or three were forced to do their shooting with both 



