I 10 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



irregular in outline and broken down on the southerly 

 side. After the rains they were, one and all, covered 

 with green vegetation. Due north, as far as I could 

 see, stretched a trackless desert, very arid and forbid- 

 ding in aspect. 



Upon our arrival at this camp Lieutenant von 

 Hohnel shot a male rhinoceros. While Karscho was 

 engaged in getting out the liver for our table, he looked 

 up and saw a female rhinoceros with a young one stand- 

 ing within ten feet of him, and looking as if they were 

 about to charge him and revenge the death of their rela- 

 tive. He had barely time to make off in safety (with 

 the liver), when the rhinoceroses appeared to alter their 

 minds, and went off at a slow canter, soon disappearing. 



The nights at this time were deliciously cool, but 

 the heat of the day was terrific. The following morn- 

 ing we attempted to start si ' .ly after five, but upon 

 awakening we found the camp enshrouded in a thick, 

 cold mist. This prevented our getting under way until 

 some minutes after six. A few moments' march, and 

 the fog had shut out all trace of our camp, as if Nature 

 sought in this way to warn us to make up our minds that 

 we were not to see this place again. After a few hours' 

 marching we crossed a trail running to the eastward 

 from the mountain range. Motio said it was the trail 

 of a large band of Rendile, who visited the Em.be a 

 few years ago. At noon we crossed the highest point 

 in our route over the slopes, about 3500 feet above sea- 

 level. We were then shut in on all sides by steep, 

 grass-dressed hills of volcanic origin ; no sight of the 

 desert gave variety to the view ; all was forbidding, 

 confining, threatening. 



