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Stalking Expeditions in the Nyika 



But this time I could not prevent the tour armed Askaris 

 who were with me from likewise firing- off their rifles in 

 their terror, and after that my people would not stir a 

 step further with me. Curiously enouoh, I was able to 

 point out to them distinctly, on the carcases of the rhi- 

 noceroses, that their Mauser bullets had entirely missed 

 their aim ; only one had hit, but too far back, and not on 

 a vital part. 



I frankly confess that my own nerves somewhat gave 

 way, and that a certain fury against the pachyderms took 

 hold ot me. These feelings were coupled with one ot 

 distress at being obliged to slay so uselessly, and 

 therefore I sought in one of the wooded, brook-threaded 

 valleys a place to sleep for the night. To my surprise, 

 clouds had been oatherino; for some time — for even in the 

 dry season this lotty chain of mountains can condense a 

 certain quantity ot moisture. Suddenly there splashed 

 down from the gloomy pile a short but heavy local shower, 

 which did not, of course, fall upon the thirsty velt, but 

 only on the high peaks of this mountain-region. 



As suddenly as the rain began it has ceased. A big 

 fire is kindled from a lot of dry twigs, and I enjoy a 

 refreshing bath in a pool formed by a forest-stream, and 

 shaped like the arena of a circus. But the first thing 

 to be done is to destroy in difierent ways the rhinoceros- 

 tracks, which cross each other from every side of the 

 valley. This is achieved to within some hundred paces 

 of our encampment, and everywhere around the Wando- 

 robo who are with me cast their spells, to keep away 

 rhinoceroses and other animals at night. 



VOL. II. 621 17 



