EAST AFRICA AND ITS BIG GAME. 
= 53 
Rabai mission-men to meet us and assist in carrying 
some of the loads, and thus enable Martin, with as 
many men as we could spare, to return to H- 
at Taveta, who in the meantime was necessarily very 
short-handed. Unfortunately we did not meet them 
till forty miles farther on, as, through some mistake, 
they had not started from Rabai in time. 
We therefore thought it best to remain here a day 
to give the Rabai men a chance of arriving, and in the 
meantime tried to induce some Wa-teita to assist us 
in carrying our baggage. During the course of the 
day twelve promised to accompany us to the coast, but 
by the following morning they had had time to think 
better of it, and not one would come. As we could 
delay no longer, we made the best of the situation by 
increasing the weight of our loads, and thus enabling 
Martin to return with twenty-eight men. I would here 
say that we were deeply indebted to him for his ex¬ 
cellent services, and can thoroughly recommend him 
to any one contemplating an expedition in this 
country. Indeed, I consider any traveller who does 
obtain his services exceptionally fortunate, and in the 
best possible position for conducting a successful and 
pleasurable trip. 
From Jovia to Mombasa the journey was without 
incident, the only thing to be noted being that we 
obtained several of the vulturine guinea-fowl, a species 
we had never before come across. Their plumage is 
lovely, and but for the disfigurement of their ugly, bald, 
