1 70 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA ch. xiv 



Pes Swamp we crossed the Guaso Narok, and pro- 

 ceeded along the right bank of the river. A frown- 

 ing escarpment runs parallel to the left bank, and is 

 called by the Masai " Lebobonye Airobi Maritee," 

 which being interpreted means " The escarpment 

 on which g-rows the tree with the oreen leaves." 

 There were very few of these trees to be seen 

 on it, as the greater part of them had probably 

 been cut down by the Masai, to be used in making 

 their ^nanyattas. 



Owing to the trouble with the donkeys it was late 

 in the evening when we reached camp at a place 

 called Kilowash, a somewhat weird-looking spot on 

 the banks of the Guaso Narok. Soon after our 

 arrival I heard a guinea-fowl making a tremendous 

 cackling in a tree not more than a hundred yards 

 from my tent, so I went out with my shot gun to 

 get it for dinner. I was rather surprised on reaching 

 the place to see a leopard bound off into the 

 gloom. He was evidently on the same errand as 

 myself, " pot hunting," but I was just in time to save 

 the guinea-fowl from his clutches and secure it for 

 our table. 



As the country from Rumuruti onward was prac- 

 tically unknown, I commenced to make a map of 

 our route, and every day for the rest of the journey, 

 while my companions did what shooting they could 

 on their own account, I occupied myself almost 



