376 AFRICAN CAMP FIRES. 



forest ; they knew how to go about in the forest ; 

 they understood how to find their way in the 

 forest. They knew the elephant ; they had seen 

 the elephant many times in the forest ; they 

 knew where the elephant ranged in the forest " 

 and so on through every piece of information 

 we desired. It is the usual and only sure way of 

 questioning natives. 



Thus we learned that the elephant range ex- 

 tended south through the forests for about seven 

 days' travel ; that at this time of year the beasts 

 might be anywhere on that range. This confirmed 

 our decision. Then said we to Leyeye : 



" Tell the Masai that the bwana m'kubwa is 

 most pleased with them, and that he is pleased 

 with the way they have worked for him, and 

 that he is pleased with the presents they have 

 brought him. Tell them that he has no goods 

 here with him, but that he has sent men back 

 to the boma of bwana Kingozi * for blankets and 

 wire and cloth, and when those men return he 

 will make a good present to these Masai and to 

 Naiokotuku, their chief. 



" Tell the Wanderobo that the bwana m'kubwa 

 is pleased with them, and that he thanks them 

 for coming so far to tell him of the elephant, 



* V.'s native name the Master with the Red Beard. 



