MT. MAUNGU. 
53 
twenty volunteers went off to the relief of Martin. In 
the meantime those who had slept on the road kept 
dropping in, and eventually the last stragglers turned 
up with Martin about io a.m. On his arrival we 
learned there were only six deserters, a very small 
number considering the terrible march undertaken by 
those who were loyal. A day’s rest at Maungu was 
decided upon, the men being naturally exhausted, and 
many of them having their shoulders perfectly raw from 
carrying the loads. 
Our present situation was about 2100 feet above the 
sea, and more than half way up the hill range, now 
reached, which consisted of three or four abrupt 
elevations. The view from the one we had selected for 
a camping-ground was very fine, extending for many 
miles to the S.E., in the direction of Mombasa. In 
this direction we looked down upon the wilderness of 
undulating bush country through which we had just 
passed, while to the N.E. we could see, some twenty 
miles distant, the hills of Teita or Ndara, another 
isolated mountain range. Our water supply was derived 
from a natural reservoir or basin in a rock at the top of 
the highest hill, about 900 feet above the camp, the 
ascent to which was steep and difficult. The natives 
declared this supply to be inexhaustible, and therefore 
relied upon it even in the driest season. 
This experience enabled me to thoroughly realise all 
the terrible anxieties which must have attended Mr. 
Thomson’s march on his return from Taveta to Mom¬ 
basa. He had to do seventy-two miles straight off on 
