The headman, five personal servants, and five camelmen, eleven in all, will be the permanent party engaged beforehand, who will serve throughout the trip and return with the caravan to the coast. In addition, enough food should be carried for the following temporary servants, to be engaged locally in the interior and dismissed again as required, namely,—
Two guides, one being for the white man, to accompany him and the two hunters when out shooting; the other, who may with advantage be an influential Akil,[56] to guide the camel caravan.
One small boy, to look after milk goats, sheep, or donkeys, which it may be necessary to buy in the interior and drive along with the caravan. Donkeys are useful as baits for lions.
We shall require to buy twelve camels, ten being for baggage, one being for the European to ride, one being a spare camel without mats or load. About 10 per cent is a good proportion of spare camels. They are not absolutely necessary, but desirable.
We will now accurately calculate what will be the loads, and whether the ten baggage camels will be able to carry them.
The loads will come under the following heads:—
(a) Rations, 42 days, for 14 Somális (with percentage for guests).
(b) Rations, 42 days, for one European.
(c) Private baggage, tent, and instruments of European.