234 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. VI 



for we were then compelled to build a better camp. 

 We first cleared away all the tall grass in the im- 

 mediate neighbourhood ; then we marked out a square^ 

 just one-half an acre in extent, and this we fenced in 

 with tall palisades. It took 1300 logs, each more 

 than six inches in diameter, to complete the circuit. 

 Inside and close to the palisade we placed the huts 

 of the men. These huts were made, not of straw, as 

 we feared another fire, but open on the inside like 

 lean-tos, and roofed with thin strips of the midrib of 

 a large palm growing along the banks of the neigh- 

 bouring brook. In two weeks' time we had completed 

 a capital camp, sufiiciently strong to withstand the 

 attack of a great number of natives. 



When our new camp was finished, we released the 

 Embe hostages we had detained. After loading them 

 with presents we sent them back to their people with 

 the intelligence that upon the following day we 

 should visit them for the purpose of entering into 

 the bonds of blood-brotherhood with the whole tribe. 

 We told them we would not be satisfied with any- 

 thing less than the most solemn ceremony, such as 

 would be binding for all time ; and insisted that this 

 ceremony must be accomplished during our coming 

 visit to them ; also, that, should they not be willing 

 to become our blood-brothers, we should then know 

 they were our enemies, and we would act accordingly. 



This step was absolutely necessary; for when Lieu- 

 tenant von Hohnel and I set out upon our journey, 

 George would be left at Daitcho with comparatively 

 few men. Though our camp was strong, and our 

 relations with the Daitcho people friendly, neverthe- 



