cheer them was something to smoke. At the same time I sent back
some other men to Khoko, with cloth to buy grain for present
consumption, as some of my porters were already reduced to living
on wild herbs and white ants. I then sent all the remaining men,
under the directions of Bombay and Baraka, to fell a tall tree
with hatchets, on the banks of the nullah, with a view to
bridging it; but the tree dropped to the wrong side, and thwarted
the plan. The rain ceased on the 17th, just as we put the rain-
gauge out, which was at once interpreted to be our Uganga, or
religious charm, and therefore the cause of its ceasing. It was
the first fine day for a fortnight, so we were only too glad to
put all our things out to dry, and rejoiced to think of the
stream's subsiding. My men who went back to Khoko for grain
having returned with next to nothing-- though, of course, they
had spent all the cloths--I sent back another batch with pretty
cloths, as it was confidently stated that grain was so scarce
there, nothing but the best fabrics would but it. This also
proved a dead failure; but although animals were very scarce,
Grant relieved our anxiety by shooting a zebra and an antelope.

After five halts, we forded the stream, middle deep, and pushed
forwards again, doing short stages of four or five miles a-day,
in the greatest possible confusion; for, whilst Grant and I were
compelled to go out shooting all day for the pot, the sheikh and
Bombay went on with the first half of the property and then,
keeping guard over it sent the men back again to Baraka, who kept
rear-guard, to have the rest brought on. Order there was none:
the men hated this "double work;" all the Wanyamuezi but three
deserted, with the connivance of the coast-men, carrying off
their loads with them, under a mutual understanding, as I found