chap, viii.] HELPLESSNESS IN AN ADVANCE. 
303 
procure nothing without the greatest annoyance and 
trouble. 
My men, by their mutiny and desertion at Gondo- 
koro, had reduced a well-armed expedition to a mere 
remnant, dependent upon the company of a band of 
robbers for the means of advancing through the 
country. Instead of travelling as I had arranged, at 
the head of forty-five well-armed men, I had a miserable 
fifteen cowardly curs, who were employed in driving 
the baggage animals; thus they would be helpless in 
the event of an attack upon the road. I accordingly 
proposed to make a depot at Latooka, and to travel 
with only twelve donkeys and the lightest baggage. 
It was a continual trial of temper and wounded pride. 
To give up the expedition was easy, but to succeed at 
that pe'riod appeared hopeless; and success could only 
be accomplished by the greatest patience, perseverance, 
and most careful tact and management of all parties. 
It was most galling to be a hanger-on to this company 
of traders, who tolerated me for the sake of presents, 
but who hated me in their hearts. 
One afternoon some natives suddenly arrived from a 
country named Obbo with presents from their chief 
for the Turks, and also for me. Ibrahim received several 
tusks, while I received an iron hoe (molote), as the 
news had already extended to that country, “ that a 
