an Arabic word for book. What this book was, it is,
of course, impossible to say; but it is not altogether
improbable that it was a Bible; for, since we know the
Abyssinians had accepted Christianity many years ago,
it is not unlikely that they had communicated some
knowledge of it to the Galla, who inhabited the country
adjacent to Abyssinia.
Whatever this book was, they guarded it with most
jealous care; but one day, while repelling an attack of
some hostile and marauding natives, the book disappeared.
It was thought by the Galla that it had been
eaten by one of their cattle. From the disappearance of
the book evil fortune has followed them till now, and to
this day they continue search for it, as their talisman.
Whenever a cow is killed, they search within its stomach
in the hope of finding it. From this habit of searching
the intestines of a cow, they have adopted the old Roman
custom of foretelling the future by the appearance of the
entrails. A t present there is not the least indication
displayed by these people that they possess Christianity.
On the neck of one, however, I saw a white shell, with a
cross rudely carved upon it.
On September 23, we reached the Tana River at a
place called Merifano. A t this point the Tana is quite
a respectable stream, being about 150 yards m width,
and flowing with rapidity between steep clay banks,
which are surmounted with tall sycamores, heavily laden
with festooning creepers.
Here we fell in with the Pokomo. These people we
found to be a simple and kindly race, eager to please,
and delighted beyond expression when they discovered
that our intentions were peaceable. The day we
reached the Tana one of our camels died, and was
greedily eaten by our' men, who considered meat in any
form a luxury.
From our arrival at the Tana dates the real beginning
of our journey, for at this point we left behind all thought
O u r P o k o m o B o a t m e n
of even the partial civilization-of the coast. It was with
more than curiosity that Lieutenant von Hohnel and I
gazed at the swirling, muddy stream at our feet, wondering
whence it came, and seeking to interpret its loud
murmur into words of cheer and welcome to the newcomers
upon its banks.