LION HUNTING ON THE KAPITI PLAINS 77 



and both the Hills were with us, and Heller came too; for 

 he liked, when possible, to be with the hunters so that he 

 could at once care for any beast that was shot. As the 

 safari was stationary, we took fifty or sixty porters as beat- 

 ers. It was thirteen hours before we got into camp that 

 evening. The Hills had with them as beaters and water- 

 carriers half a dozen of the Wakamba who were working 

 on their farm. It was interesting to watch these naked 

 savages, with their filed teeth, their heads shaved in curi- 

 ous patterns, and carrying for arms little bows and 

 arrows. 



Before lunch we beat a long, low hill. Harold Hill was 

 with me; Medlicott and Kermit were together. We placed 

 ourselves, one couple on each side of a narrow neck, two- 

 thirds of the way along the crest of the hill; and soon 

 after we were in position we heard the distant shouts of 

 the beaters as they came toward us, covering the crest and 

 the tops of the slopes on both sides. It was rather dis- 

 concerting to find how much better Hill's eyes were than 

 mine. He saw everything first, and it usually took some 

 time before he could make me see it. In this first drive 

 nothing came my way except some mountain reedbuck 

 does, at which I did not shoot. But a fine male cheetah 

 came to Kermit, and he bowled it over in good style as 

 it ran. 



Then the beaters halted, and waited before resuming 

 their march until the guns had gone clear round and es- 

 tablished themselves at the base of the farther end of the 

 hill. This time Kermit, who was a couple of hundred 

 yards from me, killed a reedbuck and a steinbuck. Sud- 

 denly Hill said, "Lion," and endeavored to point it out to 



