CHAP. III.] 
START FROM GONDOKORO. 
141 
the drums beat; the Turkish ensign led the way; and 
they marched at 2 o’clock p.m., sending a polite 
message, “ daring ” me to follow them. 
I immediately ordered the tent to be struck, the 
luggage to be arranged, the animals to be collected, 
and everything to be ready for the march. Kicharn 
and Saat were in high spirits, even my unwilling 
men were obliged to work, and by 7 p.m. we were 
all ready. The camels were too heavily loaded, carry¬ 
ing about seven hundred pounds each. The donkeys 
were also overloaded, but there was no help for it. 
Mrs. Baker was well mounted on my good old Abys¬ 
sinian hunter “ Tetel,” * and was carrying several 
leather bags slung to the pommel, while I was equally 
loaded on my horse “ Filfil; ” t in fact, we were all 
carrying as much as we could stow. 
We had neither guide, nor interpreter. Not one 
native was procurable, all being under the influence 
of the traders, who had determined to render our 
advance utterly impossible by preventing the natives 
from assisting us. All had been threatened, and we, 
perfectly helpless, commenced the desperate journey 
in darkness about an hour after sunset. 
“ Where shall we go ? ” said the men, just as the 
order was given to start. “ Who can travel without 
f “Pepper.” 
* “ Hartebeest.” 
