156 
THROUGH THE THIRST TO THE SOTIK 
utterly different from any of the East African natives, and 
dressed in ordinary clothes. In addition there were various 
natives—primitive savages in dress and habit, but coming 
from the cattle-owning tribes. Each ox-team was guided 
by one of these savages, who led the first yoke by a leathern 
thong, while the wagon-driver, with his long whip, stalked 
Watering the oxen. Taking their last drink for three days 
From a photograph by Kermit Roosevelt 
to and fro beside the line of oxen, or rode in the wagon. The 
huge wagons, with their white tops or “ sails/’ were larger 
than those our own settlers and freighters used. Except 
one small one, to which there were but eight oxen, each 
was drawn by a span of seven or eight yoke; they were all 
native humped cattle. 
We had one hundred and ninety-six porters, in addition 
to the askaris, tent-boys, gun-bearers, and saises. The 
