CHAPTER XLVI 



In the Sotik Wilderness and on Lake Naivasha 



MR. ROOSEVELT'S hunting was done in two methods. One 

 of these was that described in the last chapter, in which our 

 hunter made his headquarters in some gentleman's residence 

 and took daily excursions into the ample surrounding plains : now for 

 the mere pleasure of an outing in the African highlands ; now to bring 

 down some coveted specimen of the superabundant animal life — ante- 

 lope, zebra, or giraffe; now in pursuit of such dangerous game as 

 the rhinoceros or elephant. The other method was that with which 

 we are now concerned, in which the hunter cut loose from civilized 

 ways, marched with his train of porters into the wilderness, tenting 

 at night, hunting when the sought-for grounds were reached, and 

 carrying his prizes with him as he made his way through untrodden 

 wilds. 



Shall we describe the train of Mr. Roosevelt on one of these expe- 

 ditions? Had we been there when he went "on safari," we should 

 have seen a long line of sturdy blacks, heavily laden yet cheerful and 

 happy under their loads, for had not each received a new suit of 

 clothes and was not each to be well paid at his journey's end ? Strong, 

 good-natured fellows these, fond of song and dance, yet little more 

 than grown-up children, with hasty tempers and apt to become surly 

 with no good cause; yet at most times easily managed and ready to 

 stride along under their fifty- or sixty-pound load for as many hours 

 or miles as their leaders wished them to go. 



Odd-looking fellows they, wearing the blouse or jersey and the 

 drawers which the government demands, but fond of adding some fan- 

 tastic addition to their attire, perhaps a ragged coat, a skin cap, or a red 

 fez, with feathers thrust into it, or some more savage head dress, may- 

 hap made up of strips of skin decorated with an empty tin can. An 



(41s) 



