was able to ascertain that farther on there
were no villages and that the country was waterless. This was hard to
believe, for the numerous herds which they encountered must have drunk
somewhere. Nevertheless, the account of the desert, in which there were
no rivers nor sloughs, frightened the negroes and desertions began. The
first example was set by M'Kunje and M'Pua. Fortunately their escape
was detected early, and pursuers on horseback caught them not far from
the camp; when they were brought back Kali, with the aid of the bamboo
sticks, impressed upon them the impropriety of their conduct. Stas,
assembling all the guards, delivered a speech to them, which the young
negro interpreted into the native language. Taking advantage of the
fact that at the last stopping place lions roared all night about the
camp, Stas endeavored to convince his men that whoever ran away would
unavoidably become their prey, and even if he passed the night on
acacia boughs the still more terrible "wobo" would find him there. He
said afterwards that wherever the antelopes live there must be water,
and if in the further course of their journey they should chance upon a
region entirely destitute of water, they could take enough of it with
them in bags of antelope skin for two or three days' journey. The
negroes, hearing his words, repeated every little while, one after
another: "Oh, mother, how true that is, how true!" but the following
night five Samburus and two Wahimas ran away, and after that every
night somebody was missing.

M'Kunje and M'Pua did not, however, try their fortune a second time for
the simple reason that Kali at sunset ordered them to be bound.

Nevertheless, the country became drier and drier, and the sun scorched
the jungle unmercifully. Even acacias could not be seen. Herds of
antelopes appeared continually but in smaller numbers. The donkey and
the horses yet found sufficient food, as under the high, dry grass was
hidden in many places lower grass, greener and less dry. But the King,
though he was not fastidious, grew lean. When they chanced upon an
acacia he broke it with his head, and nibbled diligently its leaves and
even the pods of the previous year. The caravan indeed came upon water
every day, but frequently it was so bad that it had to be filtered or
else it was unfit even for the elephant to drink. Afterwards it
happened several times that the men, sent in advance, returned under
Kali's command, not finding a