kisras and honey for breakfast; but, for several days not
having tasted meat, I took the rifle for a stroll through
the forest in search of game. After an hour’s ramble
I returned without having fired a shot. I had come
upon fresh tracks of Tetel (hartebeest) and guineafowl,
but they had evidently come down to the stream
to drink, and had wandered back into 3 » the interior. If
game was scarce, fruit was plentiful—both Richarn
and I were loaded with a species of yellow plum as
large as an egg; these grew in prodigious numbers
upon fine forest trees, beneath which the ground was
yellow with the quantities that had fallen from the
boughs; these were remarkably sweet, and yet'acid,
with much juice, and a very delicious flavour.
At 11.25 we again started for a long march, our
course being east. The ground was most favourable for
the animals, being perfectly flat and free from ravines.
We accordingly stepped along at a brisk pace, and the
intense heat of the sun throughout the hottest hours
of the day made the journey fatiguing for all but
the camels. The latter were excellent of their class,
and now far excelled the other transport animals,
marching along with ease under loads of about 600 lbs.
each.
My caravan was at the rear of the trader’s p a rty ;
but the ground being good, we left our people and
cantered on to the advanced flag. I t was curious to ■
witness the motley assemblage in single file extending
over about half a mile of ground ;—-several of the
people were mounted on donkeys; some on oxen: the
most were on foot, < including all the women to the
number of about sixty, who were the slaves of the
trader’s people. These carried heavy loads; and many
in addition to the burdens carried children -strapped
to their backs in leather slings. After four or five hours’
march during the intense heat many of the overloaded
women showed symptoms of distress, and became foot-
sore ;—the grass having been recently burnt had left
the sharp charred stumps, which were very trying to
those whose sandals were not in the best condition.
The women were forced along by their brutal owners
with sharp blows of the coorbatch ; and one who was
far advanced in pregnancy could at length go no
farther, Upon this the savage to whom she belonged
belaboured her with a large stick, and not succeeding
in driving her before him, he knocked her down and
jumped upon her. The woman’s feet were swollen
and bleeding, but later in the day I again saw her
hobbling along in the rear by the aid of a bamboo.
The traders march in good form ; one flag leads the
party, guarded by eight or ten men, while a native
carries a box of five hundred cartridges for their use