It was small enough, but do what we would we could not get its weight down under about forty pounds a man.

This is what it consisted of:-- The three express rifles and two hundred rounds of ammunition.
The two Winchester repeating rifles (for Umbopa and Ventvoegel), with two hundred rounds of cartridge.
Five Cochrane's water-bottles, each holding four pints.
Five blankets.
Twenty-five pounds' weight of biltong--i.e.sun-dried game flesh.
Ten pounds' weight of best mixed beads for gifts.
A selection of medicine, including an ounce of quinine, and one or two small surgical instruments.
Our knives, a few sundries, such as a compass, matches, a pocket filter, tobacco, a trowel, a bottle of brandy, and the clothes we stood in.
This was our total equipment, a small one indeed for such a venture, but we dared not attempt to carry more.

Indeed, that load was a heavy one per man with which to travel across the burning desert, for in such places every additional ounce tells.

But we could not see our way to reducing the weight.

There was nothing taken but what was absolutely necessary.
With great difficulty, and by the promise of a present of a good hunting-knife each, I succeeded in persuading three wretched natives from the village to come with us for the first stage, twenty miles, and to carry a large gourd holding a gallon of water apiece.