176 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA ch. xiv 



faces, as they basked and frisked in the afternoon 

 sunshine. There was one old male — a large black 

 fellow, who was evidently the " king of the castle." 

 The way the females would clutch their offspring 

 and get out of his path as he rambled round was 

 most amusing, while if by chance a youngster got 

 in his way he was rewarded with a hearty cuff on 

 the ear. When they saw me watching them they 

 all crowded to my side of the rock, apparently as 

 much interested in my movements as I was in 

 theirs. 



Our last march before reaching the Guaso Nyiro 

 was through dense bush, scrub, and euphorbia trees, 

 where no game could be seen. The place where 

 the Guaso Narok flows into the Guaso Nyiro is 

 called "The Junction," and is a noted camping 

 ground for big-game hunters, as they can be almost 

 certain of finding here the much-prized oryx beisa, a 

 giraffe, if they wish one, and, with exceptional good 

 luck, that shy and much sought after gazelle, the 

 peculiar-looking long-necked gerenuk. 



