never in his life seen even a horse or a white man
separately, and when the two appeared simultaneously,
the sight proved too much for his nerves.
In an incredibly short time a large band of fully
armed warriors arrived, and endeavoured to persuade
me to fall in with their ideas of a suitable camping-
place. I waved them off, and pitched my tent under
a tall palm tree. Through Motio we told them we
wanted food, and were friends. They seemed incredulous,
but after much talk we succeeded in purchasing
a few potatoes, which Lieutenant von Hohnel and I
had cooked, and later ate with avidity. These were
the first fresh vegetables we had partaken of since
leaving Hameye.
Immediately after my arrival the able-bodied men
were set to work, and in less than half an hour the
camp was fortified by a strong thorn zeriba. As this
work proceeded, the natives eyed us with suspicion;
and once or twice several elderly men actually ventured
to seize some of the thorn bushes, and break down a
portion of the zeriba already made. They sullenly withdrew,
upon being told by Motio that the white man
objected to their interference. We were one and all
rejoiced at having reached people, and the prospect of
food in plenty. The countenances of my men soon lost
the appearance of fatigue and anxiety they had worn
during the previous month, and even the sick and ailing
raised their heads, and showed signs of interest in what
was going on about them.
It is characteristic of the sick African to give up all
hope of recovery; and this, together with the hardships
they were forced to undergo while on the march, and the
meagreness of their diet, made it a really difficult matter
to restore one of them to health after being taken ill.
On this day we served out the last of our supply of
beans and corn. By the use of our rifles, we had been
enabled to make the thirty days’ supply of food which
we had taken with us when leaving Hameye last exactly
fifty days. Had we gone unprepared, to take advantage
of the presence of game, we should long before have
been forced to turn back. For the preceding ten days
both Lieutenant von Hohnel and I had suffered all the
tortures of. indigestion resulting from our coarse diet.
With eagerness we questioned Motio as to the products
of the country of Wamsara. He said the natives grew
two kinds of millet, Indian corn, tobacco, squash, pumpkins,
and three varieties of beans. The thought of this
variety watered our mouths; and we went to sleep
soothed with the thought that on the morrow market
would open, and we should revel in the luxury of fresh
vegetables.