342 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
and very strong and enduring, but many of them extremely 
wild and troublesome to pack. They are, no doubt, a near 
relation of the wild ass. Their own country being a very dry 
one, they do not suffer soon from thirst; indeed, they seem to 
drink less water than other donkeys, and understand digging 
for it in the sandy river-beds with their feet. 
This caravan was under the leadership of a Beloochi, and 
had been away from the coast about two years already. Such 
caravans are made up of a number of traders, each with his 
own goods, porters, etc. They combine together for mutual 
help and protection on long expeditions. The ivory trading is 
carried out by the leader, each trader putting in goods in 
proportion to his wealth into the general stock, the proceeds 
being afterwards divided in like proportions. One of these 
men, who had formerly been an askari in a caravan of the 
I.B.E.A. Co. which I had been with years before, and who 
remembered me, sent me a present of a fine fat goat. This 
was the most disinterested present I ever received from 
an African, for the giver knew there was no possibility of 
our meeting and consequently that he could receive no 
return. 
By the most happy coincidence the last trace of the 
aperture in my side—which had obstinately refused to unite 
so long as the internal wound remained unhealed — finally 
closed on the very day that Abdulla arrived with the last 
instalment of our possessions from Kere ; and, to my intense 
relief, a little more than three months after receiving the 
injuries, I became externally whole once more. I was still 
weak, and my battered chest and side sore and stiff; but I felt 
so far sound, that not only did I feel confident of being able to 
walk to the coast, but I determined to go on a few days ahead, 
while Abdulla waited here with the main body, to have a look 
for Lekwari’s monster tuskers. 
Giving my headman instructions, then, to remain until he 
should get word from me. in readiness to follow at once with 
