us as many hours o f labour, elbowing and thrusting
our way, to the injury o f our bodies and the
detriment o f our clothing. W e camped at 5 P. M.
near another small pool, at an altitude o f 4350
feet above the sea. The next day, on the afternoon
o f the 8th, we should have reached Urimi,
and, in order to be certain o f doing so, marched
fourteen miles to still another pool at a height
o f 4550 feet above sea-level. Y e t still we saw
no limit to this immense bushfield, and our labours
had, this day, been increased tenfold. Our
guide had lost the path early in the day, and
was innocently leading us in an easterly direction!
T he responsibility o f leading a half starved
expedition— as ours now certainly was— through
a dense bush, without knowing whither or for
how many days, was great; but I was compelled
to undertake it rather than see it wander eastw
ard, where it would be hopeless to expect
provisions. T he greater number o f our people
had consumed their rations early in the morning.
I had led it northward for hours, when we came
to a large tree to the top o f which I requested
the guide to ascend, to try i f he could recognize
any familiar feature in the dreary landscape.
A fte r a short examination, he declared he saw
a ridge that he knew, near which, he said, was
situate the village o f Uveriveri. This news
stimulated our exertions, and, myself leading
[Jan. 9. i 87S-1 THE PATH l o s t ! 139 [ Uveriveri. J
the van, we travelled briskly until 5 P. M., when
we arrived at the third pool.
Meantime Barker and the two Pococks, assisted
b y twenty chiefs, were bringing up the rear,
and we never suspected for a moment that the
broad track which we trampled over grass and
through bush would be unperceived b y those
in rear o f us. The Europeans and chiefs, assisted
by the reports o f heavily loaded muskets, were
enabled to reach camp successfully at 7 P. M.;
but the chiefs then reported that there had not
arrived a party o f four men, and a donkey-boy
who was leading an ass loaded with coffee. O f
these, however, there was no fear, as they had
detailed the chief Simba to oversee them, Simba
having a reputation among his fellows for fidelity,
courage, and knowledge o f travel.
The night passed, and the morning o f the 9th
dawned, and I anxiously asked about the absentees.
T h e y had not arrived. But as each
hour in the jungle added to the distress o f a
still greater number o f people, we moved on to
the miserable little village o f Uveriveri. The
inhabitants consisted o f only two families, who
could not spare us one grain! W e might as
well have remained in the jungle, for no sustenance
could be procured here.
In this critical position, many lives hanging on
my decision, I resolved to despatch forty o f the
strongest men—-ten chiefs and thirty o f the