An ivory trader in North Kenia : $b the record of an expedition through Kikuyu to Galla-land in east equatorial Africa; with an account of the Rendili and Burkeneji tribesArkell-Hardwick, A. (Alfred)
History
An ivory trader in North Kenia : $b the record of an expedition through Kikuyu to Galla-land in east equatorial Africa; with an account of the Rendili and Burkeneji tribes
Arkell-Hardwick, A. (Alfred)
Africa, East -- Description and travel; Ethnology -- Africa, East; Rendille (African people); Samburu (African people)
On the morning of November 27th, we broke camp and resumed our march,
exceedingly thankful that we were no longer handicapped on the march
by the presence of the sheep. I was still rather shaky after my touch
of fever, so I rode the big mule for the first time since leaving the
Green Camp on the Waso Nyiro. The next day we reached the Maragua,
where we found a rough bridge, which had been constructed by Captain
Skene, who was on his way to M’biri to relieve Captain Longfield. The
latter had been ordered to Kismayu to take part in the Ogaden Somali
Expedition which was to avenge Major Jenner’s murder. We crossed
safely, and camped on the other side. Three cows were stolen during
the afternoon by the A’kikuyu, but we sent Jumbi and half a dozen men
immediately in pursuit, and they recovered them without difficulty.
Four days later we reached the river Thika-Thika. Congoni once more
appeared on the scene, and we were able to shoot several for food, and
I also secured a roan antelope, the first we had seen during the trip.
Besides congoni there were numbers of zebras, wildebeeste, wart-hog,
grantei, and thompsonei; and George and I, taking turns with the
shot-gun, managed to secure some guinea-fowl, and occasionally a wild
duck.
Very heavy rain the night before we reached the Thika-Thika delayed us
a little. We reached the river at midday and found it full of water,
but the current was comparatively sluggish. We saw a couple of hippo,
and any number of crocodiles.
At a place where a fallen tree projected some way over the water we
constructed a rude bridge, resting the centre of the structure upon a
small island in the stream. It was not beautiful to look upon, neither
was it over strong; but it sufficed, and during the afternoon the whole
safari crossed by its means. The cattle were driven further down the
river to a spot where the banks shelved somewhat, and they were then
swum across, luckily without interference from any too inquisitive
crocodiles.
The next day was George’s turn to have a touch of fever, which, though
slight, made him very uncomfortable. We were now entering a very marshy
piece of country, traversed by numerous rivers and streams, which
drained into the Athi River.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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