Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Expedition Team

On January 12, 1867, in the small town of Namanga on the border of Kenya and Tanzania, an expedition was underway, heading north into the territory of Namanga. Leading this adventurous journey was Henriette, a self-taught explorer hailing from the German region.

Henriette's fascination with adventure stories since childhood had ignited a burning desire to explore the world. He yearned for the excitement and novelty of traversing uncharted territories like the heroes in those tales. As he grew older, Henriette was determined to embark on his own adventures, and his chosen destination was the mysterious continent of Africa.

However, there was a significant obstacle in Henriette's path—he had no funds to purchase a boat ticket to Africa. Fortunately, Ernst's recruitment efforts in the German region offered a solution. Henriette eagerly signed up to join the East African colonial mercenary team, becoming part of the first wave of explorers.

This journey had taken Henriette and his fellow mercenaries across the Baltic Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean until they finally reached East Africa. Upon their arrival, they found themselves relatively unfamiliar with the inland regions of East Africa. Therefore, several expeditions were organized to explore these territories, drawing participants from the pool of over 2,000 German immigrants.

Henriette, as one of the first to enlist in the expedition, was appointed as the leader of a small team. Guiding a team of over a dozen people, Henriette embarked on explorations that would eventually lead them to Lake Sauron (Lake Tanganyika) to the west.

This particular expedition aimed to survey the geography of East Africa, focusing on the northern regions of Namanga. Simultaneously, another team from the capital of Mwanza in the Great Lakes region was sent to explore the eastern edge of the Great Lakes to the north.

Henriette and his team began their journey in Karatu, heading east to the Arusha stronghold. From there, they turned north and reached Namanga, the starting point of their exploration into Kenya's territory.

Namanga, situated at the crossroads of Tanzania and Kenya, was not far from Mount Kilimanjaro in the east. The East African colony had deliberately chosen to explore the central and western regions of Kenya from the northern plateau to avoid potential conflicts arising from the Sultanate of Zanzibar's control over eastern Kenya.

Their route from Namanga was relatively straightforward: heading north for approximately 150 kilometers would lead them to Nairobi, the former capital of Kenya in previous times.

The central and western regions of Kenya were historically considered the heartland of the country. This was evident from the administrative regions, where the southwestern regions were smaller but numerous, while the three eastern provinces made up a significant portion of Kenya's territory.

Population centers in Kenya were concentrated in the western plateau and near the Great Lakes region, with the southeastern coast, including Mombasa, having a relatively high population density.

The Sultanate of Zanzibar had a substantial influence over Kenya, particularly in the eastern part of the country. Therefore, the East African colony chose to explore the central and western regions of Kenya to establish a presence in the area.

As Henriette and his team made their way through the East African plateau, they endured the scorching sun, leaning on branches fashioned into makeshift crutches. Henriette observed the changing landscapes and took notes of the surroundings along the journey.

Amidst the relentless sun and challenging terrain, one of Henriette's team members suggested taking a break. Henriette, using his compass and the map he had drawn along the way, assessed their location. It was still midday, and they had about ten miles left to reach Ngong Mountain. He assured the team that they would rest once they arrived there.

The team continued their march, and after about an hour and a half, they reached the foot of Ngong Mountain. This area offered a more hospitable environment with lush greenery and numerous trees on the mountain.

After setting up a camp for rest, Henriette meticulously reviewed his notes and marked the map with the sights and details they had encountered on their journey.

As night fell in East Africa, the expedition members, feeling the rapid drop in temperature, gathered around a bonfire they had built for warmth. They began to cook their meal, having caught a caracal as prey earlier. The caracal meat was seasoned, skewered on branches, and roasted over the fire. This was supplemented with rice from the colony and wild vegetables they had gathered along the way.

As the expedition team members enjoyed their meal, they couldn't help but long for bread, but the colony's current conditions did not allow for bread baking. However, they had learned simple cooking methods from the Chinese, who were part of their group.

The expedition members also took turns on night watch, as the East African nights could be treacherous. Henriette and his team members maintained a vigilant watch over the camp, keeping a close eye on the surrounding forest to prevent any potential threats.

Under the starlit African sky, with flames flickering in the open space and the chorus of insects in the background, the expedition team rested for the night, with a few pairs of shining eyes lurking in the nearby forest.

The following day, the team packed their supplies and resumed their journey, moving forward into Kenya's territory as they crossed Mount Ngong.

(End of Chapter 57)