288 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



returned to the dak-bungalow for a very be- 

 lated supper. While eating this we discussed 

 our plans. 



These were in essence very simple. Some- 

 where south of the Great Thirst of the Sotik was 

 a river called the Narossara. Back of the river 

 were high mountains, and down the river were 

 benches dropping off by thousands of feet to the 

 barren country of Lake Magahdi. Over some of 

 this country ranged the Greater Kudu, easily the 

 prize buck of East Africa. We intended to try 

 for a Greater Kudu. 



People laughed at us. The beast is extremely 

 rare ; it ranges over a wide area ; it inhabits the 

 thickest sort of cover in a sheer mountainous 

 country ; its senses are wonderfully acute ; and 

 it is very wary. A man might, once in a blue 

 moon, get one by happening upon it accidentally, 

 but deliberately to go after it was sheer lunacy. 

 So we were told. As a matter of fact, we thought 

 so ourselves, but Greater Kudu was as good an 

 excuse as another. 



The most immediate of our physical difficulties 

 was the Thirst. Six miles from Kijabe we would 

 leave the Kedong River. After that was no 

 more water for two days and nights. During 

 that time we should be forced to travel and 



