one should venture into the interior with what appeared
to him to be vast wealth. He had, before this time,
questioned me as to the contents of my boxes; and,
despite the fact that I assured him they contained either
food or supplies, he exchanged sly glances with his staff,
and doubtless was fully convinced that they contained
gold and precious stones. Having bade him farewell, I
ordered the tomtom to sound again; and with one long
resounding cheer my men seized their loads, and the
expedition was under way.
The order of marching was as follows: I in the lead
with six Soudanese; then the second headman, Mo-
hamadi, and the long single line of porters — some singing
cheerily, others stolidly silent, while yet others, even
at the start, groaning and shrinking beneath their burdens.
Lieutenant von Hohnel and George brought
up the rear with six Soudanese, while immediately in
front of them were placed the camels, donkeys, sheep,
and goats. All the animals gave much trouble the first
day, and necessitated many delays. Lieutenant von
Hohnel had a bad foot and slight dysentery, and so
he rode one of the horses.
The camels were wonderful animals, fourteen of them
carrying fifty loads and doing it well; and thirty of the
donkeys were carefully loaded, each with two full loads.
We reached our camping-place at i p .m ., and gradually,
by threes and fours, the men straggled in ; for it is
not until several weeks have elapsed, and the men have
become hardened to their labour, that anything resembling
order can be maintained in a caravan composed of
porters. Just before reaching camp we forded a small
stream, which the camels had much difficulty in doing.
It is three dfys’ march from Mkonumbi to the Tana
River, and the country passed through is similar in
topography to that surrounding Mkonumbi.
At a point one day’s journey from the river we
reached a small Galla village. The Galla here are an
insignificant and impoverished
race, far different
from their brethren
who inhabit the country
lying to the west of A byssinia.
It is estimated
that throughout the entire
length of the Tana
River there are not more
than iooo Galla. These
people have had a sad
history, and their story
is as follows :
Many years ago, two
brothers reigned over a
large Galla tribe, located
at a point several hundred
miles to the north
of the Tana — presumably
the Aroussa. These
brothers quarrelled, and GALLA GmL
concluded they could not inhabit the same country.
The younger set out with half the tribe, and, after
wandering many years, arrived at the upper regions of
the Tana River. A t that time they possessed cattle,
camels, sheep, and goats. They had with them, so the
legend runs, a sacred book, which they called “ kitab,”