452 LETTERS TO DR. SCHWEINFURTH.

men, I have written to Junker inviting him to come to us through Monbuttu, for his own sake and that of his collections, as Herr Bohndorff is still staying somewhere near Zemio’s. At the same time I sent the necessary orders to all our stations to give him assistance and supply him with porters. If he likes to take this opportunity of surveying the upper course of the Kobali on the way, there is nothing to prevent him; he has only to proceed along the road which it was originally my intention to have followed. I handed the letter for him to the son of the Zande chief, Mbru, together with a letter to Bohndorff, and I am convinced that the latter gentleman has received them by this time. So I shall hope to see Dr. Junker again before his departure.

TomayA, August 10, 1883.

I have had some hard marches, and well earned the few days’ rest that have fallen to my share. Bongeré was kind enough to procure me quickly the porters I wanted, and in two long days’ march we reached the village of Bodio, another Zande chief, where we were to change our porters. But this chief did not show himself, and sent a downright refusal in answer to my invitation. JI had no men with me except my servants, so it was best to keep quiet, and employ the porters, whom I had detained in expectation of what might occur, for one day more. I settled my men, and stored my small quantity of baggage in the village of a friendly Zande interpreter, dismissed the porters, and hurried forward to requisition others among the Abaka chiefs. I was so successful that I had all my men and goods with me again within three days, and then we went on towards our station, Tomaya, in rather short marches, for the tall grass was very troublesome. We reached this place the day before yesterday, and on the way I was able to get a small supply of durrah from Chief Tomaya, who has settled about three hours’ journey from here; I had not tasted any for a long time, and it was quite a godsend after my long abstinence in the land of the root-eaters.

I must now wait until the men arrive porn Loégo, which may not be for a couple of days more, and I am trying to turn the little free time that is left me to the best account. It is very