THE GUASO NYERO 313 



Seton beam. I shot another kangani just at nightfall, a 

 mile or so from camp, as it drank in a wild, tree-clad gorge 

 of the river. I was alone, strolling quietly through the 

 dusk, along the margin of the high banks by the stream, 

 and saw a mixed herd of zebras coming down to a well- 

 worn drinking-place, evidently much used by game, on the 

 opposite side of the river. They were alert and nervous, 

 evidently on the lookout for both lions and crocodiles. I 

 singled out the largest, the leader of the troop, and shot it 

 across the stream; I have rarely taken a shot among more 

 picturesque surroundings. 



At our final camp on the river, before leaving it on our 

 week's steady trek southward to Neri, we found a spot 

 in which game abounded. It was about ten miles back 

 from the river, a stretch of plain sparsely covered with 

 thorn-trees, broken by koppies, and bounded by chains of 

 low, jagged mountains, with an occasional bold, isolated 

 peak. The crags and cliff walls were fantastically carved and 

 channelled by the weathering of ages in that dry climate. 

 It was a harsh, unlovely spot in the glare of the hot day- 

 light; but at sunset it was very lovely, with a wild and 

 stern beauty. 



Here the game abounded, and was not wary. Before 

 starting out on our week's steady marching I wished to 

 give the safari a good feed; and one day I shot them five 

 zebra and an oryx bull, together with a couple of gazelle 

 for ourselves and our immediate attendants enough of 

 the game being hallalled to provide for the Mohammedans 

 in the safari. I also shot an old bull giraffe of the northern 



not come down out of the belly skin; one of those shot by Kermit showed the same 

 peculiarity; Cuninghame says it is a common occurrence with this species. More- 

 over the stallions did not have their canine teeth developed. 



