them by Fumo Omari for killing elephants. Jongeni was
said to be only three days’ march away. Fumo Omari’s
askaris patrol all this part of the country, and even on
occasions go up as far as Burkau.
My seventeen porters had by this time safely returned, so
1 proposed starting forward again about noon. Whilst I was
taking an early breakfast, Rashid suddenly appeared with
the news that ten armed men had suddenly appeared in the
village!
i
THE DODORI RIVER.
I told him to bring them to me at once; they presently
sauntered up in the most free-and-easy manner. In reply to
my questions they said they were indiarubber gatherers who
had come from Kionga, and that they were now on their way
back to Faza. I professed to be satisfied, and tfiey retired.
Rashid said he was sure this was all lies, as he and the corporal
had recognized the two leaders of the party, one of
whom was no less than Mohamed Bafaro, the brother of
Avatula of Jongeni, one of the principal leaders of Fumo
Omari’s men, the other being Amadi Koropana, another
well-known bad character, whom Rashid had noticed in
Mohamed bin Saif’s following at Homw£ metamah shamba.
This man Amadi had also been at Jongeni, and had lately
been imprisoned by Mr. Rogers at Lamu.
Rashid presently got hold of Gomo’s brother and questioned
him further about these men ; he confessed that it was
unusual for a party of professed rubber-gatherers to carry so
many guns. I could not see that anything could be done
about this, except to be on the alert, so my loads being
packed I prepared to start at the time I had already fixed.
As I found we had to cross the Dodori, I arranged to carry
as many loads as I j could to the river, impressing all my
askaris as well as porters, and then sending back again for a
few loads that were left behind. We got away at 12.30 p.m.,
the armed party of Watiku remaining in the village watching
our departure. The path led off through the forest, with fine
trees growing thickly and closely together; here again I
noticed a good many rubber vines. ! Emerging from this, we
proceeded through alternate belts of forest and grass glades,
some of, the latter very swampy and low, a thick fringe of
forest continuing on my right. The course of the Dodori,
along which I was marching, could be traced by the belt of
forest growing upon its banks. Occasional clumps of ebony
trees wore to be seen here and there in the more open country,
which, with its scattered fine trees and undulating' downs,
covered with bright green grass, made up a charming landscape.
At two o’clock the path reached the river, which our guides,
who had been very sullen, said was here crossed by a tree
purposely felled across. Here I halted, and immediately sent
back the number of porters required to bring on the loads left
at the village, and as I feared possible trouble, I sent the
corporal in charge of them, whilst I remained to supervise the
crossing of the river. The stream here was 4 feet deep and
from 20 to 25 feet wide, and quite overgrown with overhanging
trees and creepers.
As the guides told us there might be crocodiles, we at first
attempted to cross by the tree, but it was quite impossible to