CHAPTER IV 



We honoured Christmas Day by making it a day of 

 rest ; and although our surroundings were not such as 

 are usually associated with this day, we at least were 

 perfectly satisfied with them, and received what Provi- 

 dence had given us with a thankful spirit. The rushing 

 river assisted our minds in reverting to home and our 

 people ; and both Lieutenant von Hohnel and I uttered 

 the hope that they were as contented and joyful on this 

 day as we. 



Lieutenant von Hbhnel spent a portion of the day in 

 working upon his map ; while I passed an hour or two 

 in questioning Motio about the neighbouring countries 

 and peoples. He said that, at one time, the upper 

 reaches of the Tana and the banks of the Guaso Nyiro 

 had both been inhabited by a people called Mumoniot. 

 Those on the Tana had been destroyed by the raids of 

 the Wakamba, and those on the Guaso Nyiro had been 

 so harried by the inhabitants of the mountains on one 

 hand, and the Masai on the other, that all but a small 

 remnant had been destroyed; and not many years ago 

 this remnant had joined the people on the mountains, 

 and became amalgamated with them. 



While strolling along the river in the afternoon, I 

 carne across a small native bridge spanning the stream, 

 which at that ])()int was not more than thirty feet wide, 



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