202 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. V 



of Pokomo, which had left Hameye for the purpose of 

 hippopotamus-hunting. As these people possess no 

 flocks or herds, they are passionately fond of meat, and 

 make occasional excursions into the interior for the 

 purpose of gratifying their appetite for flesh. 



The Pokomo gave a gloomy account of the state of 

 affairs at our zeriba at Hameye. From what they said, 

 we gathered that everybody, with the exception of George 

 and a few men, had either died or deserted, and that 

 all the cattle, camels, and donkeys we had left behind 

 had disappeared. We were not absolutely cast down by 

 this statement, for we had learned that the natives in 

 a:ivino; accounts of the affairs of others were wont to dwell 

 at great length upon the gloomy side of the picture. 



At 4 P.M. on the loth of February we caught a 

 glimpse of the Stars and Stripes proudly waving in the 

 breeze over our camp at Hameye. We welcomed this 

 pleasant sight with a salute of sixty rifles from my 

 men. Directly, with joyful shouts, the porters who had 

 remained in camp at Hameye rushed forth to greet 

 their companions, whom they had given up for lost. 

 Their appearance was sleek, and in marked contrast 

 with that of the men who had accompanied me. Soon 

 George appeared, looking pale but fat, and it was with 

 the pleasantest feelings that we grasped hands. 



" What is the news, George " I asked. 



" Pretty good, sir," was the reply ; " all the oxen are 

 dead, only three cattle are left, and five camels, and the 

 donkeys are dying fast." 



One would scarcely term this " good news," but it was 

 not sufficiently bad to dampen the pleasure of again 

 reaching Hameye. 



