II 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



65 



showed that we were still more than a day's march 

 south of our canoes. We returned to camp, and at 

 once set to work cutting a road through the bush for 

 the camels, donkeys, and men. 



During our absence from camp two of our camels 

 died. These beasts seem to have the slis^htest dos- 

 sible hold upon life. Upon this occasion, however, 

 their deaths were not inopportune, as there was no 

 food in camp, and the men were delighted to get the 

 meat. With the corn we discovered on the island, 

 we were able to give the men two days' rations. 



Camels on the March 



The next morning we made an early start, but were 

 again harassed by the thick undergrowth, and prevented 

 from reaching the river. This time we could not get 

 nearer than two miles from it. All the men were then 

 sent to the river to get water, and some of them did 

 not reach camp until the following morning. 



From the light rains the desert had become positively 

 beautiful; the vicious thorn-bushes were disguised in 

 delicate shades of softest green, and their thorns hidden 

 by l^lossoms, — veritable wolves in lambs' clothing. One 

 of the men deserted here. I am sure he never reached 

 the coast, and his death in that horrible bush was a 

 terrible penalty for his stupidity. 



