Much to our disgust, the Rendile did not reappear
during our stay at this place.
The following day Achmet Dualla returned with
but three of the party who had accompanied him to
bring back the donkey saddles. The three men had
been sufficient to bring back the empty saddles, and
it is well that they were; for Achmet reported that,
N a t i v e B r i d g e — A C h a s m i n t h e G u a s o N y i r o R i v e r
upon reaching Lolokwi, Mohamadi with the other six
men had made off in- the night. This news was all
but pleasant. We knew they would have little difficulty
in reaching the coast, for the distance between
Lolokwi and the ford on the Guaso Nyiro, where we
had deposited the five days’ food supply, was short
enough to- be covered in a day; and after supplying
themselves there they would be able to reach the coast
at, Mombasa, or, by following the Tana, at Lamoo.
During our stay with the Rendile I had served out
to my men forty rounds of ammunition. As the
deserters were expert shots, they would be able to
supply themselves with game on the way, and after
reaching Hameye they could intimidate the Pokomo.
At Hameye, providing themselves with canoes, they
could easily float down-stream to the coast. With
the donkey saddles I had also left the two ivory
tusks taken from the elephant shot by Lieutenant
von Hohnel. These were worth about $150; and as
they were taken by these men, they would supply
them with means after reaching the coast to return
to Zanzibar.
Our visit to the Rendile, except for the purpose of
discovery, and the interest which they had excited,
was anything but satisfactory. From the appearance
of these people, and the fact that they possessed
horses, our men had acquired a great dread of them,
and this undoubtedly increased the Zanzibari’s willingness
to desert. However, I did not give up all hope
of catching Mohamadi. Knowing the Zanzibari character,
I thought he would go straight to Daitcho,
inform George that he and his six men were the sole
survivors of our party, and endeavour to induce George
and the rest of the caravan to return to the coast.
Bearing this in mind, it seemed not only advisable,
but necessary, to return at once to Daitcho, not only
to relieve the mind of George, should Mohamadi have
told him some plausible story, but also in the hope
of capturing the deserters. Accordingly Lieutenant
von Hohnel set out the following day for Lolokwi,
where he was to wait until I returned, which I pro