tH. XI] CAMP LIFE 275 



adventures of tlie day, and chaffing one another with 

 uproarious laughter about any small misadventure; a 

 difference of opinion as to the direction of camp being 

 always a subject, first for earnest discussion, and then 

 for much mirth at the expense of whosoever had been 

 proved to be mistaken. 



My two horses, when I did not use them, grazed 

 contentedly throughout the day near the little tliorn 

 boma which surrounded our tents ; and at nightfall the 

 friendly things came within it of their own accord to be 

 given their feed of corn and be put in their own tent. 

 AVhen the sun was hot they wTre tormented by biting 

 flies ; but their work was easy, and they were well 

 treated and throve. In the daytime \'ultures, kites, 

 and white-necked ravens came round camp, and after 

 nightfall jackals w^ailed and hyenas uttered their w^eird 

 cries as they prowled outside the thorn walls. Twice, at 

 midnight, we heard the ominous sighing or moaning of 

 a hungry lion, and I looked to my rifle, which always 

 stood, loaded, at the head of my bed. But on neither 

 occasion did he come near us. Every night a fire was 

 kept burning in the entrance to the boma, and the three 

 askaris watched in turn, with instructions to call me if 

 there was any need. 



I easily kept the camp supplied with meat, as I had 

 anticipated that 1 could do. My men feasted on oryx 

 and eland, while I reserved the tongues and tenderloins 

 for myself. Each day I hunted for eight or ten hours, 

 something of interest always happening. I would not 

 shoot at the gazelles ; and the game I did want was so 

 shy that almost all my shots w^ere at long nuige, and 

 consequently a number of them did not hit. However, 

 I came on my best oryx in rather thick bush, and killed 

 it at a hundred and twenty-five yards, as it turned with 



