VI 



TRAVELS m EASTER AFRICA 



207 



By March 8 all was ready for departure, and at 

 eight o'clock on the following morning we set out. 

 Before starting, I warned my men against attempts 

 at desertion. A few of them shouted, " Never fear ; 

 we will follow you," but the majority looked forward 

 with no pleasure to the toils of load-carrying after 

 their long rest at Hameye, and it was with foreboding 

 that I beheld the looks of discontent upon most of 



Unloading Camels 

 Showing mode of carrying Berthon boat 



their faces, and heard a low murmur run through my 

 caravan. My horse (Lieutenant von Hohnel's did not 

 live even to reach Lorian) was so ill that he was 

 unable to carry me ; so I hobbled along at the head 

 of my men, supported by a stick. 



The sun was intensely hot, and as the porters from 

 their long rest were unfit for the march, they sweated 

 and groaned beneath the weight of their burdens. 

 Shortly after noon I camped under some dhum palms 

 near the river, and by 3.30 all the men were in camp, 



