30 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA chap. 



Bwanas (masters) ; and, in addition to the boy who 

 was already provided to carry their kit and tent, 

 they actually demanded a second boy to wait on 

 them ! W^ithout more ado we paid them their two 

 days' wages and dismissed them on the spot. They 

 looked exceedinplv taken aback at this, as of course 

 they believed that we could not possibly get on 

 without them, and fully expected us to comply with 

 their impudent demands. It was a comical sight to 

 watch their crestfallen expression as we marched 

 cheerily away, leaving them on the deserted plain 

 to carry their own kit back to Nairobi. I do not 

 think that they will forget the lesson in a hurry, 

 or attempt again to dictate terms to a sportsman 

 in the wilds. 



We made but a short march along" the riofht bank 

 of the Nairobi, which we followed to its junction with 

 the Athi at a place called by the Masai Mdoum-too- 

 a-Guaso. The Athi river runs north here throug-h a 

 deep gorge, and we found the passage rather difficult 

 to negotiate, as we had to clamber down one boulder- 

 strewn side and then up the other, which was as steep 

 as the side of a haystack. By about noon we had our 

 camp pitched on the eastern or right bank, on a site 

 which gave us a splendid view of the surrounding 

 country. A poisonous snake killed on the way was 

 our only trophy. 



Our little captured hartebeeste had been carried 



