262 
THE KILIMA-NJARO EXPEDITION. 
tent, which, happily, was water-tight, and they grate¬ 
fully huddled together on the floor till the tempest 
ceased. 
The next morning, however, by a happy contrast 
the scene was fair and smiling. The sky was cloud¬ 
less and serene, the two snow-peaks were in full view, 
and mild as the heat of the sun was at this elevation, 
it was nevertheless of some service in drying the 
soaked garments of the men. All through this day 
succeeding the storm the men worked unremittingly 
at their houses, especially thatching their roofs with 
increased care, and when another downpour took 
place we observed with pleasure that no wet had 
penetrated the interior of the dwellings. 
When these were completed, the whole settlement 
was further surrounded by a stout fence or “ boma ” 
as a wise precaution against possible assault. The 
rushing river flowed along one side of our little village, 
and the only gate of entrance and exit was so con¬ 
structed that it might easily be blocked and rendered 
impassable. 
My own portion of the settlement was strongly 
railed off from the rest, and would serve in case of 
attack as a citadel and last refuge from besiegers. 
You see we were still doubtful as to the manner in 
which our old foes of Kiboso would behave, and 
thought it best to anticipate the worst. We had 
scarcely finished these preparations before, one morn¬ 
ing early, my men came running in to announce the 
approach of a troop of suspicious-looking savages. It 
was the Wa-kiboso, we felt sure, and all made silently 
ready to defend the settlement if these people in¬ 
tended to fight. Soon their foremost men appeared 
on the rising slope to the west of the settlement, 
