struggle. So many paths branched off to the different fields
and villages, that we continually lost our way; indeed shortly
afterwards my two scouts came back to report that the path
ended at the river, at another ford, the third we had met with
— the new path we then followed also ended abruptly at the
river, as did the next likewise.
With so many of the Makongeni villages on the north side
of the river, I thought there must be a direct route to them
from this direction, and accordingly retraced my steps with a
view to finding it. After half-an-hour, I struck a path which
led to the foot of a very steep, slippery bank, up which we
climbed, and found at the top that we had come upon a small
runaway-slave settlement; its site was well chosen, for the
high bank on which it was situated commanded an extensive
view of the country round.
The Watoro here assured me that there was no road to
Makongeni on this northern side of the river, and that the
country ahead was all thick forest with scattered Galla villages.
Wishing to verify this statement, I got one of the Watoro to
guide me and two armed porters to the nearest Giryama
village, where the head-man confirmed the above statement,
saying that the road from Mombrui crossed the Sabaki
opposite the village of Arbagundi, and that there was no other
road except the one I had just left, and the old war-paths of
the Gallas— known only to themselves. We therefore returned
to the river, and waded across to the large village of Arbagundi
on the south side, which is inhabited by the Wa-Giryama
and Gallas. This village and the country surrounding it take
their name from Arbagundi lake, which, it is said, partly dries
up in the hot season; the soil is of a friable black loam, and
very porous, having quite absorbed the heavy rain-fall.
Further on it changed to a bright red loam, the grass being
short and good.
I had only brought a couple of men with me, having told
my porters to wait on the other side till I had found out
something definite about the path. I now sent one of the men
for the rest of my,people, and had my tent pitched close to
the river to command the crossing. * It had.been raining hard
all the morning, and all jmy things—-tent, bed, and beddings