292 
THE KILIMA-NJAEO EXPEDITION. 
with spreading trees and smooth turf, nearly sur¬ 
rounded by a loop of the stream—we resolved to make 
our camp here. Fortunately a brilliant moon dis¬ 
pelled the darkness and materially aided our work. 
The neck of dry land connecting us with the outer 
plain was carefully cut oh with a formidable hedge of 
thorns, and secure in our isolated camp, we might dis¬ 
regard the prowling Wa-rombo who still skulked 
without. A guard was set, but no attack disturbed 
our heavy slumbers. However, the next day we had 
no sooner started than bands of savages began to form 
on the rising slopes of the mountain and came running 
towards us at a half-trot. This time matters looked 
serious. There were men armed with guns as well as 
Wa-rombo with spears and shields. The history of it 
was this (as I afterwards learned). When our guides 
had deserted us halfway to Rombo they had hastened 
back to Marahu to inform their master of my breach 
of faith. Resolved now to strip me of all my goods 
and avenge ancient grudges, the young chief des¬ 
patched an army of a hundred men armed with 
Sniders to intercept me and crush my little force. 
They never imagined I could find my way alone, and 
expected to encounter me still wandering hopelessly 
in the forests of Kimawenzi. However, on arriving 
at my former sleeping-place it was ascertained that I 
had taken the direction of Rombo. To Rombo, there¬ 
fore, they came, and angrily questioned its inhabitants. 
These savages informed the Marahu soldiers that I 
had forced my way through their country that very 
day and was now camped by the Lumi. At earliest 
dawn the Marahu and Rombo hordes came in search 
of us, hoping to catch the caravan on the march and 
surprise it when the porters should be scattered singly 
