Throuorh the Wilderness, 
313 
Towards .noon we made a very welcome discovery. 
Abashora turned aside from the path, and began prob- 
ing one of the trees. In another moment he shouted 
Bisan ! " (water.) The tree was bent and hollow, so 
bent as to send all the rain falling upon it through a 
small aperture at the bottom of the curve into the 
lower half of the hollow trunk. The aperture was 
large enough to admit Abashora's small hand, and he 
drew the water with a shell which we found lying 
close by. The water was very cool and sweet. Most 
of the men had gone ahead, but the three of us who 
were behind drank largely of the precious fluid, and 
left a supply for other wayfarers. 
At the next stage beyond this the honey-bird 
made its appearance, and sought to lure us from the 
path in search of certain sweets which perhaps it 
knew of This singular bird is called Chichiri by 
the Gallas, Sega by the Wasuahili, and Tswehi by 
the Wanika. It does not always lead to honey ; for 
sometimes, in lieu thereof, there is found a sleeping 
lion, leopard, or other beast of prey. At least this is 
affirmed by the people of these regions. We did not 
on this occasion follow its call. 
In another place Abashora brought me a little 
honey of the Tanali, a very small insect, like a tiny 
fly. From a large nest of them a cupful of very 
sweet honey may be obtained. 
In this district we gathered from' trees, which were 
otherwise bare, the fruit called Tungu. It is of the 
size of a big cherry, contains a large stone, and in 
colour is a pale yellow. It is very juicy, but of in- 
sipid, rather sweet, astringent taste. I ate it with 
avidity, being both hungry and thirsty ; and while 
