CH. XIV] CAMP ON THE NILE 423 



used to describe anything male, fi*om a lion or an 

 elephant to a bustard or a crocodile ; " cow " being his 

 expression for the female of these and all other creatures. 

 As Gouvimali came running up to shake hands, his face 

 wreathed in smiles, he exclaimed " G-o-o-d-e morning " 

 — a phrase which he had picked up under the impression 

 that it was a species of congratulation. 



As always when I have killed buffalo, I was struck 

 by the massive bulk of the great bull as he lay in death, 

 and by the evident and tremendous muscular power of 

 his big-boned frame. He looked what he was, a for- 

 midable beast. Thirty porters had to be sent out to 

 bring to camp the head, hide, and meat. We found, 

 by the way, that his meat made excellent soup, his 

 kidneys a good stew, while liis tongue was delicious. 



Next morning Kermit and I with the bulk of the 

 safari walked back to our main camp, on the Nile, 

 leaving Cuninghame and Heller where they were for a 

 day, to take care of the buffalo skin. Each of us struck 

 off across the country by himself, with his gun-bearers. 

 After walking five or six miles I saw a big rhino three 

 (juarters of a mile off. At this point the country was 

 Hat, the acacias very thinly scattered, and the grass 

 completely burnt off, the green young blades sprouting ; 

 and there was no difficulty in making out, at the 

 distance we did, the vast grey bulk of the rhino as it 

 stood inertly under a tree. Drawing nearer, we saw 

 that it had a good horn, although not as good as 

 Kermit's best ; and, approaching quietly to within 

 forty yards, I sliot the beast. 



At the main camp we found that Mearns had made 

 a fine collection of birds in our absence ; while Loring 

 had taken a variety of excellent photos, of marabou, 

 vultures, and kites feeding, and, above all, of a monitor 



