TO THE UASIN GISHU 



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bull in the bottom. The steep sides of the hollow were 

 covered with a tangled growth of thorn scrub and cactus, 

 traversed by rhinoceros paths. The bottom was more 

 open, strewn with bushy mounds or hillocks, and on one of 

 these stood a noble koodoo bull. He stood with his mas- 

 sive spiral horns thrown back, and they shifted slowly as 

 he turned his head from side to side. Kermit stole down 

 one of the rhino paths, save for which the scrub would 

 have been practically impenetrable; it was alive with 

 rhinos; Kermit heard several, and Juma who followed 

 some distance behind saw three. The stalk took time; 

 and the sun was on the horizon and the light fading when, 

 at over two hundred yards, Kermit took his shot. The 

 first bullet missed, but as for a moment the bull paused 

 and wheeled Kermit fired again and the second bullet went 

 home. The wounded beast ran, Kermit, with Juma, hard 

 on the trail; and he overtook and killed it just as darkness 

 fell. Then back to camp they stumbled and plunged 

 through the darkness, Kermit tearing the sole completely 

 off one shoe. They reached camp at ten and Juma, who 

 had only been working half the day, took out some por- 

 ters to the dead bull, which they skinned, and then slept 

 by until morning. Later, on his birthday, he killed a 

 cow, which completed the group; the two koodoo cost 

 him ten days' steady labor. The koodoo were always found 

 on steep, rocky hills; their stomachs contained only grass, 

 for both beasts when shot were grazing (I do not know 

 whether or not they also browse). The midday hours, 

 when the heat was most intense, they usually spent resting; 

 but once Kermit came on two which were drinking in a 

 stream exactly at noon. 



