Hunting- in East Africa 



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These were dry and as light as cork. In 

 a few hours' time my men constructed a raft, 

 fifteen feet in length and five feet in width. 

 On trial, it was found capable of supporting 

 two men, but even with this light load it sank 

 some inches below the surface of the water. I 

 fastened a deal box on the forward end as seat, 

 and instructed one of the men, who said he 

 understood boatman's work, to stand in the 

 stern and punt the craft along with a pole. 

 During the night my slumbers were constantly 

 disturbed by the deep, ominous grunting of 

 hippopotami, which, as if to show their con- 

 tempt for my prowess, chose a path to their 

 feeding grounds which led them within a few 

 yards of my camp. The night, though starlit, 

 was too dark for a shot, so I curbed my im- 

 patience till the morning. 



As most people are aware, the day begins in 

 the tropics as nearly as possible at 6 o'clock 

 and lasts twelve hours. Two hours before 

 dawn I was up and fortifying myself against the 

 damp morning air with a good breakfast of 

 roast chicken, rice and coffee. My men, wrap- 

 ped in their thin cotton shirts, lay about the 

 fires on the damp ground, seemingly unmindful 

 of rheumatism and fever, and only desirous to 



IS 



