VIII AN EVENTFUL XMAS DAY loi 



a Kikuyu shenzi (savage) taken from the safari to 

 carry a rifle for a day or two. 



After this adventure we all thorouohly enjoyed 

 our tea, and I could not feel too thankful for the 

 providential escape which Mrs. S. had undoubtedly 

 had. I determined not to run such risks asfain in 

 this close country, so I threw out a string of scouts 

 to give us timely warning in case we should meet 

 with any other unwelcome visitors. It was very 

 well that I did take these precautions, for during 

 the remainder of the march no fewer than eitjht 

 other rhino were discovered close to our path. We 

 had these driven off, not without difficulty at times, 

 before the safari came up. The whole country in 

 this particular locality seemed to be simply alive 

 with rhino of a particularly vicious breed. Giraffes 

 were also very numerous, while impala were in herds 

 of hundreds, the bucks in one herd and the does in 

 another. 



Before reaching camp I had an exciting chase 

 after a great boar, which at first sight I took to be 

 a lion. It occurred in a little bit of open country, 

 and I very much regretted that I had no spear 

 with me, as I quickly overtook the boar and 

 galloped close to him for a while, a proceeding 

 which Aladdin very strongly objected to. 



During the last few hours of the march the foot- 

 steps of the men lagged and many halts had to be 

 called. Dusk was falling as we approached fukone 



