CHAPTER V. 
Voyage in the dhow—The first camp—Rabai—Effect of Masai raiding— 
The complete caravan—Mission men against Zanzibaris—Deserters. 
On Friday, December ioth, we made our start for the 
interior: this was thirty-five days after leaving England, 
and considering all things no very long period, as our 
preparations were made in a country where to-day 
means to-morrow and to-morrow means the week after 
next. Our despatch was mainly due to B-, who 
had visited Zanzibar two years previously to find out 
what we should require, also to Martin’s energy and 
to General Mathews’ kind assistance; under ordinary 
conditions I believe we should have fared no better 
than Count Teleki, and kicked our heels at Zanzibar 
for at least another month. We started the three 
dhows containing the porters and their loads, and at 
8.30 a.m. followed in the fourth with our personal 
servants, stopping for a short time at Freretown to 
bid Mr. Shaw adieu. He had quite recovered from 
his huff, and kindly agreed to send our mail up country 
once a month. A strong tide, running in and out of 
the creek, was now in our favour, and we sailed merrily 
along, though the ship was sufficiently leaky to require 
constant baling. The shores of the creek are fringed 
by swamp covered with mangroves, curious bushes 
