Diary Page

March 1910

Tuesday, March 1st, 1910.

20 boys took out our baggage and returned with stores at 8 a.m. Porters returned with letters and papers from Kuise. I went out a long round 6 till 3. Got close to several buffalo, but saw nothing. Took in 8 porters to bring in my dead buffalo. Camp smells a bit strong tonight!

Letters from:

Mary - of Jan.28th. George. J. de Delmage. Col. Roosevelt. Kate. Lady Glover. Litchfield.

B.E.A.Standard Feb.5th.

Wednesday, March 2nd, 1910.

Had another long tour round, going towards our old camp. Got on to quite fresh okapi spoor; followed into huge swamp, but could make nothing of it. Machandi and porters returned from Imboge. Sent note to Rokie.

Thursday, March 3rd, 1910.

Expected Rokie coming, so had a day off until afternoon when boys brought in reports of big elephant in shamba. False as usual. Got all presents given to Chief and boys.

Friday, March 4th, 1910.

Started away at 4.30 - had to shelter for an hour during terrific thunderstorm - mule met me on road. Arrived at Kuise about 11 o'clock. Found all well.

Saturday, March 5th, 1910.

Left at daybreak for Rokie's - then went on to Imboga and sent off 13 points from Alladina's - got back to Kuise at 4 o'clock. Awfully hot travelling but had mule. Got all packed ready for a start.

Sunday, March 6th, 1910.

Left Kuise at 6 o'clock and arrived in camp at Bilyano about 11. Picked up our 6 small points. Had a letter from Rokie sending porter with letters and two weeks' papers, sent to Imboga by Alladina. In afternoon I sent off Machandi and headman to Semiliki.

English Papers of E.A.Standard of Feb.12th and 19th.

Letters:

Col. Roosevelt.

Mr. Almeda.

Monday, March 7th, 1910.

Left before daylight. shot a cobus kob on march, also 2 big crocodiles on island from my tent. Found old grass shelter burnt down, so crossed river and had to camp. Had a very hot afternoon. Heaps of posso brought in. Found Machandi and ivory safe in here. Latter left in afternoon. Camp on banks of Semiliki.

1 Cobus Kob.

2 Crocodile

Tuesday, March 8th, 1910.

Left at 5. Got well up hill out of Semiliki by daybreak. Took us about 2 ¼ hours to Mondeva. Just on hilltop we were going to stop & rest when boy shouted cimba. Running up I saw dark form crouching in long grass, down in valley about 200 yards off. Aiming I hit beast, when to my horror out limped a water buck. Only went a short way and laid down and died. Of course I left boys to bring in the meat, and camped about one hour from Wassau on a little stream. Rokie sent over boy with saddle. Very hot again.

1 Water-Buck.

1 colobus Monkey.

Wrote to:

Penman-Browne.

Lady Leith.

M. Moeee.

Mrs. Bowers.

Lily.

Wills.

Phyllis.

Mrs. Ennis.

Letters from:

Mrs. Ennis. W. Cienta. Mrs. Leakey.

Toro (Almeda, Silva

Wednesday, March 9th, 1910.

Arrived in Toro about 10 am - Found the Leakeys away so I stayed with J. de G. Delmege. Mr. Pratt was also there. Found all ivory in.

Thursday, March 10th, 1910.

Busy repacking and reducing loads. Sold 851 lbs. of ivory to Alladina for 4.63 = £263:7:6. Decided to take along the 4 large tusks. Went to tea and tennis at the Bonds.

Friday, March 11th, 1910.

Finished all up and had just plenty of porters. Started after lunch and camped at Mahoumbi - 8 hours march.

Mahoumbi - 2 Hours.

Saturday, March 12th, 1910.

Up and away at 4.30. Rather dark on forest bit. Postal runners passed us. Did 5 hours to a nice new rest house at Batite, opposite the Mission.

Batite - 5 Hours.

Sunday, March 13th, 1910.

Started same time. The white Fathers of the Batite Catholic Mission, through Mons. J. Berder, wrote and sent me a huge basketful of vegetables and butter. Three hours brought us to the new tin motor rest house, but it is no use in our marches. One and a half hours further we came to Kahoura. Found same nice little clean rest house. Got half rations.

Kahoura - 4 ½ Hours.

Monday, March 14th, 1910.

Had a nice short trek, being the shortest march of the lot. Chiefly done on the old tracks. New road not being done yet. Nice rest house. Lots of posso.

Kahoumba - 4 Hours.

Tuesday, March 15th, 1910.

Started early. Five hours trek brought us to the new tin motor rest house at Kekegwe where we camped. Got half posso - used rice.

Kekegwe - 5 Hours.

Wednesday, March 16th, 1910.

Found our second headman unable to speak - turned up after; all well again. Did 5 ¼ hours; no sun. Nice new rest house. Lots of food. Passion flower (Matunda) not yet ripe.

Kybilinga - 5 ¼ hours.

Thursday, March 17th, 1910.

Walked a tremendous pace - struck Mobendi hill by daylight. 3 hours on the road to the store and then one hour by short cut. 4 in all brought us to our old camp on the stony hilltop. Nice cool walking: no sun again. Postman passes here in the early morning, so I am sending letters which will catch the French mail. Plenty of food and good eggs. Bad water.

Wrote to:

George. Vic. Darling. Bertie Stern. H. Broadley. H. Tichborne. A. G. Boyle. Betty Ivel. Wills. Alys Walley. Mr. Wrohen.

162 Katabalanga 4 hours

Friday, March 18th, 1910.

Got an early start. Met Mons. Bernstein and 2 Belgians en route for Kilo. Found a new little rest house built. Quite cool marching. Thick fog. Lots of food. Bad water.

85 - Nabakegi - 5 ¼ Hours.

Saturday, March 19th, 1910.

Got a good start. Very good road. Had rather a warm sun last two hours. Got to the nice tin motor rest house at 11 o'clock. Heaps of tomatoes here. Sending letters.

67 ½ - Chacasangala - 5 1/4 Hours.

Sunday, March 20th, 1910.

Started early as we had a long trek before us. Very good road and short cuts reduced our mileage a bit. Found no rest house on arrival just before 11 a.m. Got note from Mimi. Went to lunch with H. T. Treves, then to dine and tea with the Bowers. Met Bishop Tucker and Mr. Fletcher there. Heavy rain all afternoon. Lots of food for boys.

48 - Mityano - 5 ½ Hours.

Monday, March 21st, 1910.

Rain came on just as we got ready to start, so had to lay up till 5 o'clock. However, we only had 16 miles so got in by 11 o'clock. Rain on road for about 2 hours but not heavy. Fair good rest house and plenty of food.

32 - Kirwao - 4 ½ Hours.

Tuesday, March 22nd, 1910.

Got up at 3 as we had to do our longest march. Luckily it was fine though thunder all round. Found a new resting place made, so have only once been without at Mityano. Heaps of food here.

11 - Kalangi - 6 ¼ Hours.

Wednesday, March 23rd, 1910.

Had very heavy rain until nearly 6 o'clock, so got a late start. However, having only 2 hours, or about 8 miles by the short cuts, we reached Kampala at 9 a.m. Found Mr. Moses in new quarters, having got spirulum. I have a nice room lent me next door by Mr. . Paid all the crowd of boys off - 17 Beads and blanket, 3 ¾ months. Found a letter from Mrs.Boyle asking me to go and stay at Government House. Busy packing. This ends diary of trip.

Kampala - 2 Hours

Total = 58 ½ Hours.