CHAPTER XIV 
RETURN TO LAKE RUDOLPH 
Back to Bassu—Vigilant guards—A miraculous escape—Acute sufferings—Native 
solicitude—An exultant tribe—Rare luxuries—A long illness—An anti-slavery 
tribe—A chiefs prescription—Longing for a change—A relapse—My “con¬ 
valescent camp —Start a poultry-yard—Breeding-time of topi—Native trappers 
—A curious phenomenon—Fabulous elephants—Arrival of ivory traders—A 
happy coincidence. 
Everything being now in order here, and as Abdulla was 
able to buy sufficient food to keep us going and a little over, 
with the prospect of a better supply later on enabling us to 
accumulate a store as soon as the fine crops of “ mtama,” now 
nearly ripe, should be reaped, there was nothing to keep me 
here longer. The men I had sent to extract and stow away 
the ivory of the elephants I had shot on the way here had 
returned from Bumi after accomplishing their errand, and 
reported that elephants were still drinking nightly at the corner 
of the lake, though nothing had been seen of the troop of bulls 
since I had attacked it. I therefore made my preparations for 
a hunting trip back to Bassu in the first instance ; and on 9th 
January started with fifteen men, taking my tent and other 
necessaries, and a supply of food to last us some time, as well as 
ammunition, etc. Before leaving, I commended my people 
whom I left behind to Labugo’s care, and enjoined upon 
Abdulla and those under his charge to on no account fall out 
with the natives. 
Starting, as was my usual custom, about 5.30, we marched 
