viii PREFACE 



he has bestowed upon them. Their truth and their 

 artistic quahties speak for themselves. 



I consider myself fortunate, also, in being honoured 

 with an Introduction from the pen of Colonel H. G. C. 

 Swayne, R.E., one of the first and greatest of the 

 Somali explorers, whose name will be familiar to many 

 of my readers as an authority both upon the country 

 of which I write, and upon big game shooting generally. 

 To him, for his kind interest in this work of mine, are 

 due my most grateful thanks. 



I must also express my indebtedness for valuable 

 criticisms upon the chapter on rifles, etc., to Captain 

 Godfrey Marchant, I. A. ; and to my cousin, H. F. M. 

 Tyler, I.C.S. This chapter, and that on some aspects 

 of the theory of protective colouration in the larger 

 animals, deal with somewhat controversial questions 

 upon which I have no desire to lay down the law, 

 but I hope that they may be found not entirely 

 without value as contributions to their respective 

 subjects. 



It is not possible now, alas ! for my thanks to reach 

 one other friend to whose kindly interest and encourage- 

 ment the existence of this book is in part due, and 

 by whom three or four of the photographs reproduced 

 in it were taken ; I refer to the late Captain x\. B. 

 Eckford,of the Central India Horse, whose tragic death 

 from a Persian raider's bullet, some months ago, lias 

 robbed the Indian Army of one of its most promising 

 officers, and me of a valued personal friend. So un- 

 timely an end to such a life seems so cruelly 

 unnecessary, but at least he died as he would have 

 chosen, leading his men against a foe. His death is 



