CHAP. X TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



479 



carried forty loads between them ; so my few men had 

 their work cut out for them. The SomaH worked 

 splendidly. At 8.30 we began to take over the cattle ; 

 these gave us no trouble, seeming to have faith in us. 

 The donkeys proved conservative of their character- 

 istic obstinacy, and much effort had to be expended 

 in inducing them to cross. One by one they were 

 dragged on the structure, and, forced behind by four 

 men and pulled in front by four others, we at length 

 landed them upon the slippery rocks. They had to 

 be dragged and pushed in the same manner, until they 

 reached the last stream, and were finally landed on the 

 bank of the river, reeking wet and seemingly stunned 

 by the fact that they were now across what had ap- 

 peared to their dull minds as an entirely impassable 

 place. We reached the opposite bank at 3.30 in the 

 afternoon, tired out by the exertions of the past two 

 days. 



We had scarcely encamped when the sound of rifle 

 shots near by told us of the arrival of Hassan and 

 the men we had left at Sayer. They had been gone 

 twenty-two days from Daitcho. Of course, they had 

 numberless excuses in explanation of their delay, but 

 the truth was plain — they had taken it easy. When 

 a day or two out from Sayer, they had met a party of 

 Wamsara, who had come to them in the most friendly 

 manner, and asked them the whereabouts of the Ren- 

 ,dile, as they wished to raid them. Hassan told them, 

 and then the leader of the Wamsara asked him if he 

 thought their party sufficiently strong to make a suc- 

 cessful attack upon the Rendile. Hassan said it de- 

 pended upon the courage they possessed, as well as 



