TREKKING THROUGH THE THIRST 151 
marched out of camp singing and blowing their horns and 
whistles. Three askaris brought up the rear to look after 
laggards, and see that no weak or sick man fell out with¬ 
out our knowing or being able to give him help. 
The trail led first through open brush, or low, dry forest, 
and then out on the vast plains, where the withered grass 
was dotted here and there with low, scantily leaved thorn- 
trees, from three to eight feet high. Hour after hour we 
drew slowly ahead under the shimmering sunlight. The 
horsemen walked first, with the gun-bearers, saises, and 
usually a few very energetic and powerful porters; then 
came the safari in single file; and then the lumbering 
white-topped wagons, the patient oxen walking easily, each 
team led by a half-naked savage with frizzed hair and a 
spear or throwing-stick in his hand, while at intervals the 
long whips of the drivers cracked like rifles. The dust 
rose in clouds from the dry earth, and soon covered all 
of us; in the distance herds of zebra and hartebeest 
gazed at us as we passed, and we saw the old spoor of 
rhino, beasts we hoped to avoid, as they often charge such 
a caravan. 
Slowly the shadows lengthened; the light waned, the 
glare of the white, dusty plain was softened, and the bold 
outlines of the distant mountains grew dim. Just before 
nightfall we halted on the further side of a dry watercourse. 
The safari came up singing and whistling, and the men 
put down their loads, lit fires, and with chatter and laugh¬ 
ter prepared their food. The crossing was not good, the 
sides of the watercourse being steep; and each wagon 
was brought through by a double span, the whips crack¬ 
ing lustily as an accompaniment to the shouts of the drivers. 
