THE ROUND ROCK. 



287 



Jiwe or Rock, which gives its name to the clearing. We 

 were cheered by the sight of the red fires glaring in the 

 Kraal, but my companion's ass, probably frightened by 

 some wild beast to us invisible, reared high in the air, 

 bucked like a deer, broke his frail Arab girths, and 

 threw his invalid rider heavily upon the hard earth. 

 Arrived at the Kraal, I found every boothy occupied by 

 the porters, who refused shelter until dragged out like 

 slaughtered sheep. Said bin Salim's awning was as 

 usual snugly pitched; ours still lay on the ground. 

 The little Arab's "duty to himself" appeared to attain 

 a higher limit every stage; once comfortably housed, he 

 never thought of offering cover to another, and his 

 children knew him too well even to volunteer such 

 a service to any one but himself. On a late occasion, 

 when our tent had not appeared, Said bin Salim, to 

 whom a message had been sent, refused to lend us one 

 half of the awning committed to him, a piece of canvas 

 cut out to serve as a tent and lug-sail. Bombay then 

 distinguished himself by the memorable words, — " If 

 you are not ashamed of your master, be ashamed of his 

 servant ! " which had the etfect of bringing the awning 

 and of making Said bin Salim testily refuse the half 

 returned to him. 



Jiwe la Mkoa, or the Round Rock, is the largest 

 of the many hogs'-backs of grey syenite that stud 

 this waste. It measures about two miles in ex- 

 treme diameter, and the dome rises with a gentle slope 

 to the height of 200 or 300 feet above the dead level of 

 the plain. Tolerable water is found in pits upon a 

 swamp at its southern base, and well covered Mtego or 

 elephant traps, deep grave-like excavations, like the 

 Indian " Ogi," prove dangerous to travellers ; in one of 



