THE GUASO NYERO 273 



The first day I hunted I shot only a steinbuck for the 

 table. The country alternated between bare plains and 

 great stretches of sparse, stunted thorns. We saw zebra, 

 and two or three bands of oryx; big, handsome antelope 

 strongly built and boldly colored, with long, black, rapier- 

 like horns. They were very wary, much more so than the 

 zebra with which they associated, and we could not get 

 anywhere near them. 



Next day I hunted along the edges of a big swamp. 

 We saw waterbuck, but were unable to get within shot. 

 However, near the farther end of the swamp, in an open 

 swale, we found four eland feeding. The eland is the king 

 of antelope; and not only did I desire meat for camp, but 

 I wished the head of a good bull as a trophy for myself, 

 the eland I had hitherto shot being for the National Mu- 

 seum. The little band included a big bull, a small bull, 

 and two cows; at a distance the big bull looked slaty blue. 

 The great, sleek, handsome creatures were feeding in the 

 long grass just like cattle, switching their long tails at the 

 flies. The country looked like a park, with clumps of 

 thorn-trees scattered over the grassy sward. Carefully I 

 crept on all-fours from tree clump to tree clump, trying 

 always to move when the elands' heads were down grazing. 

 At last I was within three hundred yards, when one of 

 the cows caught a glimpse of me and alarmed the others. 

 They were startled, but puzzled, and after trotting a few 

 rods turned to stare at the half-seen object of their alarm. 

 Rising to my knee I shot the big bull in the throat as with 

 head erect he gazed in my direction. Off he went with a 

 rush, the others bounding and leaping as they accom- 

 panied him, and we followed on the blood spoor. Bakhari 



