XIII THROUGH LAIKIPIA 163 



The country was fairly flat, covered over with 

 stunted acacias and here and there a tliorn bush. 

 There was a plentiful supply of coarse grass, which 

 had a very dried-up appearance, as there had been 

 no rain for some considerable time. There were 

 comparatively few dongas, or ravines, and the ground 

 was much less broken than is generally the case in 

 this part of East Africa, so the going was pretty 

 good throughout. When I got to the banks of 

 a dry river bed well on in the day and found that 

 there was still no sign of the Guaso Nyiro, I decided 

 that it was quite time to return, so, making a great 

 detour in order to explore a fresh piece of country, 

 I rode back towards camp. 



On the way I met five Masai, who told me that as 

 they were walking along in single file, about a mile 

 from where they met me, a lion suddenly jumped 

 out of a bush they were passing and growled fiercely 

 at them. At the same instant no less than three 

 lionesses sprang up from the long grass practically 

 at their feet. Fearing that the brutes would be on 

 them, the Masai poised their spears for a thrust, but 

 the lions had just enjoyed a good meal — as the 

 remains of a zebra close by showed — so they were 

 not in the mood for a fight, and with one or two 

 more growls at the intruders, they walked slowly ofi". 



I asked the leader if he could guide me to the spot 

 where this had happened, and he agreed to do so if 



M 2 



