c h a p . II ' T R A V E L S I N E A S T E R N A F R IC A 73
We sent back in these canoes five worthless porters, our
letters for Europe, the specimens we had up to that time
collected, photographic plates we had used, and our third
headman with four trustworthy companions. The latter
were sent to endeavour to enlist fresh recruits from the
coast, and procure some things we found to be absolutely
necessary for the well-being of the caravan, which
we had neglected to procure at an earlier date. We
calculated that, as these men had the current with them
to the coast, they should be able to transact our business
and return in five weeks. This period Lieutenant
von Hohnel and I decided to spend in a journey to the
north. We intended to follow the Mackenzie River to
its source, which at that time was supposed to be Lake
Lorian. We also hoped to fall in with the Rendile, as
Lieutenant von Hohnel had heard at Kismayu that
they often pastured their flocks and herds in the neighbourhood
of this lake. In order that we might cover
ground as quickly as possible, we took with us but
eighty picked men, with food for thirty days, trusting
to find on the road sufficient game to supply us with
provisions, should we be gone for a longer period of
time.
George we left at Hameye. The place seemed healthy
for both man and beast. The camels were sorely in
need of rest, as was also the case with most of the
donkeys. Many of the men, too, seemed suffering from
fatigue, and there was much work to be done, such as
training the oxen to carry loads, and making up in
proper parcels the goods which up to this point had
been transported in the canoes. Food was cheap here,
and we concluded that, if ever there was a place where