Hunting in Many Lands 



where they had lain, and on looking about 

 found traces of fresh blood. My gun-bearer, 

 as an explanation for his behavior, said that 

 rhinos were devils, and were not to be ap- 

 proached closely. He said I must be possessed 

 of miraculous power, or they would have charg- 

 ed and slain me. The next day, fever laid me 

 low, and, though the attack was slight, some 

 days elapsed before I could muster strength to 

 take me back to Taveta. 



After a few days' rest in camp — strengthened 

 by good food and spurred to fresh exertion by 

 the barren result of my first effort — I set out 

 again, accompanied by more men and in a dif- 

 ferent direction. 



My faith in myself received a pleasant en- 

 couragement the day before my departure. 

 My head man came to me and said trade was 

 at a standstill, and that the natives could not 

 be induced to bring food to sell. On asking 

 him why, I learned that the Taveta people 

 had found three dead hippos in Lake Jipe and 

 one rhino near its shores. Meat — a rare treat 

 to them, even when not quite fresh — filled their 

 minds and bodies, and they were proof even 

 against the most tempting beads and the bright- 

 est cloths. I cannot say that I shared my 



