The men who proved the most useful in my caravan
were the seven Somali. Two of these had served with
Count Teleki and Lieutenant von Hohnel in the years
1888 and 1889; their names were Mohamet Aman and
Karscho. The former of these I placed in command of
his compatriots, and the latter I made my gun-bearer.
Mohamet Aman was a very black fellow, some thirty
years of age, with the well-developed head of his race,
and very large, intelligent eyes. As ‘a worker he was
practically untiring. He was able to read the numerals
S o m a l i H o t
on my boxes and loads, and capable of carrying in his
head many details which a European would find it necessary
to transmit to paper. His special province was
the charge of all the goods. Karscho was tall, light
in colour, possessed of really beautiful features of absolutely
Caucasian type, and active and lithe as a panther.
He was devotion itself, but lacked the qualities of patience
and self-control, which are so necessary for a
leader. Another of the Somali was Achmet Dualla.
He had been employed as a soldier with Dr. Peters
expedition. He was very stupid, but willing and untiring
in his work. The other four Somali lacked
distinctive characteristics, and need have no special
mention.
On August 24, 1892, Lieutenant von Hohnel arrived
by steamer from Kismayu, bringing with him 15 camels
and 10 fine oxen capable of bearing burdens. He had
found Kismayu and the natives thereof in an excited
state, and the reception accorded him was anything but
friendly. The cause of this was soon made manifest.
A Somali named Jama Yusuf, who had formerly served
Count Teleki and Lieutenant von Hohnel, but who was
at this time employed as court interpreter at Mombasa,
had sent a letter to the chiefs at Kismayu, warning them
against us, and advising them to hinder our entrance
into the country as far as lay in their power. Lieutenant
von Hohnel, however, allayed their fears, and besides
the purchase of the animals above mentioned, acquired
some interesting information in regard to the country
lying to the westward of Kismayu.
Before the return of Lieutenant von Hohnel, life in
camp at Mkonumbi had begun to assume a busy aspect.
I divided my porters into three companies, and,
in order to render them accustomed to the word of command,
put them through simple drills daily. After a
few days of this work I set about giving them instruction
in the use of their rifles, as but few had the slightest
conception of the nature and purposes of the weapons.
It took days before I could teach most of them the use
1 of the sights. A t the beginning many were actually
unable to close but one e y e ; for, after closing one, the
I eyelid of the other invariably drooped until that eye too
1 was shut; and to the very end of the expedition some
two or three were forced to do their shooting with both