334 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



posed doing in fifteen days. During this time Lieu- 

 tenant von Hohnel would be able, we hoped, to procure 

 guides. Upon my return from Daitcho with an in- 

 creased supply of food, and men to take the place 

 of the deserters, we hoped to push on to the Turcana 

 in search of donkeys. 



By reference to the map the reader can form some 

 conception of the circuitous route we were forced to 

 take on our march from Daitcho to Kome, where we 

 found the Rendile. In an unknown country it is 

 impossible to follow a straight or direct road, when 

 one's path lies through a waterless desert. 



Upon my setting out from Seran, Lieutenant von 

 Hohnel gave me the direction I should pursue, by 

 compass, and told me that, if I followed his course, 

 and marched at the rate of three miles per hour, I 

 should reach before dark our old Christmas camping- 

 place on the Guaso Nyiro. Bearing these instruc- 

 tions in mind, I reached the Guaso Nyiro immediately 

 opposite this camp after a ten hours' march. My men 

 were lightly laden, and the direction in which we 

 marched seemed to lend wings to their feet ; for our 

 backs were then turned upon the Rendile, and they 

 were facing the coast. 



In crossing the river we experienced some difficulty, 

 as it was still in flood ; but, once across, we again 

 stepped out briskly, and by two in the afternoon we 

 reached Ngombe crater. 



At 1.30 P.M., July 19, we reached Daitcho, having 

 accomplished the distance from Seran in three and 

 one-half days ; or, allowing for the detours we had 

 been compelled to make on account of the condition 



