Bararetta. 
175 
before daylight, but Tofiki had been up before us, and 
a breakfast of fowl, rice, and steaming-hot coffee was 
immediately placed before us. This was a most ex- 
cellent commencement ; it was too good to last. We 
were about to enter upon a country where we should 
obtain no food, where we should be entirely depend- 
ent upon the few things we could carry with us, and 
upon what an occasional hunt might bring to our 
larder. Our sporting abilities, however, are of such a 
nature as to render this latter, in a very emphatic 
sense, a most precarious trust. 
The whole party was all stir and bustle long before 
dawn. When the sun rose all was ready for the march. 
Not willing to lose a single breath of the cool morning 
air we mounted our donkeys and led the way. We 
rode on for an hour and a half, at the rate of four miles 
an hour, and then somewhat against our inclination 
turned aside, sought a shady spot, and took shelter. 
Our men were all behind. West of our route was 
what appeared to be a fair country, covered with rich 
and varied vegetation. In this direction the Wasua- 
hili of Muando Mpia were commencing their plan- 
tations.. So at length the Gallas, who have a horror 
of cultivation, are being encroached upon by the 
more civilized and agricultural Wasuahili. 
While lingering here the chichiri," or honey-guide, 
made its appearance, and began its chirruping. The 
Gallas instantly replied with a gruff Ogh," but as 
no one followed the little twitterer I had not the 
satisfaction of seeing whether it was a true call or not. 
In size this bird is smaller than the common sparrow, 
and in plumage is quite as plain. The little fellow, 
when giving us his call, seemed quite agitated, and 
