noon
But to the chief , in case he should require his services again , he gave an extravagant present and left bales of cloth for the carriers upon their return . Zu Pfeiffer and Sergeant Ludwig travelled in machilas -LRB- hammocks -RRB- each with a crew of six ; the soldiers carried nothing save their rifles , double cartridge belts , a day 's rations ; the pick of the carriers bore ammunition and the two Nordenfeldts and two pom-poms slung upon poles , and the chop boxes ; the men 's blankets and the heavy stuff were to follow more slowly under Sergeant Schultz and fifty men . The country between this village and MFunya MPopo 's was mostly forest and very sparsely inhabited , which afforded some shade and concealment , and lessened the risk of a warning being given . The expedition started at noon . The carriers were kept on the native shuffling lope by the aid of attentions from the askaris . Two unfortunate small villages which lay on the line of march were surrounded and the inhabitants massacred . Twenty porters collapsed ; they were bayoneted to prevent any chance of a successful ruse in escaping to give the alarm , and their loads given to relay men brought for that purpose .