Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/332

308 inland seas, and the occasional height of their waves would be appalling; but neither this, nor the knowledge of the existence along the shores of hostile tribes who might, and who in fact did, obstruct their landing and prevent their procuring food, could deter the venturous explorer and his followers from carrying out his bold design.

It must have been very cheering to the leader of the expedition to feel that, in the persons of the three Englishmen who accom- panied him, Frederick Barker and the brothers Pocock (whose knowledge of boats and skill as watermen rendered their services invaluable), he had with him three stout hearts and three pairs of strong arms which would never desert him in the hour of need ; and it must have been particularly trying to his feeliugs when, after many troubles shared together, many difficulties overcome, and many triumphs achieved, he saw one after another of them succumb, and die before his eyes.

The difficulties with which he had to contend, and the dangers which beset his path at every step, can only be appreciated from a careful perusal of his book. From the day he left Zanzibar, in November, 1874, with an expeditionary force of three hundred and fifty-six souls to provide for, his route towards the interior seemed one continual struggle for existence. Before he had been on the march a month desertions had been frequent (p. 98).

The rainy season began in earnest on December 23rd ; and during an eight days' march the expedition struggled through one continuous downpour to Zingeh, the plain of which was half submerged by rushing yellow streams (p. 100). At Mtiwi, on January 2nd, 1875, after an hours' rainfall, six inches of water covered the camp, and a slow current ran southerly (p. 106). Fever, opthalmia, and rheumatism supervened, but still they journeyed on ; until in the vast bush-country, through which they struggled to reach Urimi, at the rate of ten miles in as many hours, the guide missed his way, and they were lost (p. 109).

Recovering the right road by well-nigh a miracle, starvation next stared them in the face. Supplies failed, no game could be found, and the party were reduced to an allowance of two cupfuls each of oatmeal gruel. Over thirty men were ailing : some suffered from dysentery ; others from fever, asthma, chest disease, and heart-sickness ; lungs were weak, and rheumatism had its victims (p. 114). On January 18th Edward Pocock died;