THROUGH THE FORESTS OF KIM A WE HZ I, $c. 293 
along the track. We were, however, already prepared 
for a possible attack, and walked forward across the 
plain in a compact body of forty resolute men. As 
soon as it was seen that the enemy was gaining on us 
I sent all the porters carrying burthens to the front, 
and assembled in their rear those who were well armed 
and acted as guards. In this order we continued 
our march. When within a hundred yards the fore¬ 
most men of Maranu called on me to stop and parley. 
I bade the porters who were loaded to walk on slowly 
along the track whilst I and my guards halted to hear 
what the enemy had to say. The parleying, however, 
was but a ruse to gain time. No sooner had I turned 
towards the foe, to question them, than they started up 
from their recumbent position and fired a volley at us 
with their guns. Although the bullets went harm¬ 
lessly whistling over our heads, I was enraged at this: 
treachery and saw now it was high time that I taught 
them a lesson. Too much forbearance would seem to 
them timidity. So I gave the word and we took 
careful aim and fired. The savages had already 
thrown themselves flat to await our return fire; never¬ 
theless two of them were wounded. Then as we ad¬ 
vanced for a further discharge, the entire force rose to 
its feet and fled precipitately, and we naturally did not 
trouble to pursue. The entire result of this encounter 
was that one of my men had been slightly wounded by 
a Rombo lance and (as we afterwards ascertained) one 
Maranu soldier received a scalp wound and another 
had his arm broken by a bullet. Then we resumed 
our march and ultimately reached Taveita without any 
further incident. 
Here I rejoiced to find all well and thriving. Ab¬ 
dallah had purchased five young ostriches, which, to- 
