. Tramps round the Mountains of the Moon and through the back gate of the Congo State . ith fever—Muddling the distribution of food—A stiff eight-hour day—Elephant tracks—Wealth of thorns—Suggestion for fever patients—A needed rest-day and awelcome letter. THE most important event to-day has been theparting with the captain. He has been so gooda friend to us that we shall miss him much as we goalong. His cheery voice aroused me as he called, Monsieur Johnson, reveillez ; quatre heures et demi,and I knew that if we were to be off by six, it was hightime to be astir. It is not possible to move b
. Tramps round the Mountains of the Moon and through the back gate of the Congo State . ith fever—Muddling the distribution of food—A stiff eight-hour day—Elephant tracks—Wealth of thorns—Suggestion for fever patients—A needed rest-day and awelcome letter. THE most important event to-day has been theparting with the captain. He has been so gooda friend to us that we shall miss him much as we goalong. His cheery voice aroused me as he called, Monsieur Johnson, reveillez ; quatre heures et demi,and I knew that if we were to be off by six, it was hightime to be astir. It is not possible to move beforesunrise, for though the brightness of the moonlightjust in the clearing of the camp much invites an earlierstart, the gloom in the forest immediately the clearingis left makes the treacherous path impracticable. It was a first-rate parting breakfast that we made,consisting of porridge, eggs, mutton with potatoes,manioc and onions, concluding with bananas andpapaws. Whilst with the captain we have certainly been living on the fat of the land, and not least during 238. IN THE HANDS OF THE NATIVES 239 these two days when he has come with us on themarch, to combine the courtesy of seeing us off withhis work of making provision for the improving of theroute. The necessity will be realised of organisingvillages for the cultivation of food for a passingcaravan when I mention that we numbered onehundred all told, who needed to find our food aswe went along; and even now that the captain isgone we are still fifty-six, made up as follows : porters, with eight for the hammock and twofor the goats, come to thirty; in addition to theseare Petero and the five boys for personal attendanceon us all, who include gun-bearer, cook, &c.; these,together with my porters who had come with usfrom Kabarole, brought the total up to fifty-one, thefive Belgian soldiers (including the good-naturedcorporal) making up the balance. Not to be omittedfrom the caravan was the surviving
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