eyes open. Day after day I took them to a level spot
near camp, and instructed them to load and raise their
rifles to their shoulders, and aim at the word of command.
After two weeks of this sort of work I put up targets,
and gave each of the men three shots. By this I learned
• r
that but a small number of them had derived any profit
from the hours of toil which I had spent daily in their
instruction. I discovered, nevertheless, that some thirty
of them could hit a large packing-case at a distance of
eighty yards, if given sufficient time to take aim. After
the expenditure of 2000 rounds of ammunition I was
compelled to satisfy myself with this result.
The Soudanese, needless to say, were soon all excellent
shots, and took a certain pride in their weapons.
The Somali likewise readily acquired a good knowledge
of shooting.
I will outline a day of our life while in camp at Mko-
numbi. A t 5.30 a .m . the tomtom beat, and the porters
fell in, drawn up in two companies. The roll was called
by George, and he examined the rifles, pouches, water-
bottles, and bayonets. Each man had a number, and all
his outfit bore the same; so inspection was quickly
made. Then I summoned the Soudanese, inspected
their rifles, and told them the hour they were to drill.
A t 6 a .m . we had breakfast, consisting of eggs, bacon,
coffee or tea, and jam. A t 7 the Soudanese were drilled
for. two hours, and then one of the companies of porters
was taken out and exercised until noon, when we had
luncheon. This consisted of chicken and curried rice,
with a bottle of mild beer, followed by a small cup of
strong coffee and a cigarette. After luncheon we took
a short siesta, and then again to the drill-ground, where
I gave the men a little target practice. In this work I
was assisted by Lieutenant von Hohnel, and sometimes
by George, when he was not engaged in arranging the
boxes and loads.
At 2 p .m . the tomtom was sounded, and the men again
fell in for their rations. They were then mustered in
companies by George, and each man was given a quart
measure of millet and a bit of fish, or a measure of rice;
and once a week I gave them tobacco. The Somali
and Soudanese received a little better food than the
porters. A t pocho (ration) time the punishment due
the men was meted out. For the first few days many
cases of insubordination occurred, but promptness and
Severity soon taught the men that it was better to avoid
giving offence.
At 5 p .m . the cry of “ Watu wa gonjwa ” (sick men)
was heard throughout the camp. A t this cry all the
lame, the halt, and the blind assembled round the tent of
Lieutenant von Hohnel, and received treatment for their
several ailments. Many had ulcers, and a number of
them had pulmonary complaints. We had a wonderful
medicine chest, and Lieutenant von Hohnel proved a
really good physician.
One of the greatest dangers incident to African travel
is an outbreak of small-pox in one’s caravan. To obviate
this dreaded disease, we had taken with us a large
quantity of vaccine. With this we vaccinated one and
all of our men; but without producing the slightest
result. During our stay at Mkonumbi one of our porters
died , of some loathsome skin disease. His friends
refused to have anything to do with him, saying that he