CH. XVI ACROSS COUNTRY TO GUASO NYIRO 199 



continues until it loses itself in the great Lorian 

 Swamp, about 200 miles away. It is a rather 

 curious fact that two other East African rivers, the 

 Athi and the Tana, a little further to the south, 

 pursue a somewhat similar course. 



Instead of following the river along its tortuous 

 windings, I now determined to cut across country 

 to the eastward of the Junction until we should 

 strike it again as it was flowing towards the south- 

 east. I calculated that the distance would not be 

 more than fifty miles, and I depended on the 

 Samburu guide to lead me to a couple of water- 

 holes which he said he knew of on the way. 



The first of these was at a place called Turah, in 

 the Samburu country, some sixteen miles from the 

 Junction. Our guide accordingly led us practically 

 due east for the first march, across the beautiful 

 plain of Eljogi, and over undulating hills and 

 lovely grass valleys. It was a magnificent piece of 

 country, and abounded in game of all sorts — rhino, 

 giraffe, oryx. Grant's gazelle, Thomson's gazelle, 

 ostriches dotted here and there, and troops of zebra 

 everywhere. 



Before setting out I had exchanged horses with 

 B., lending him Aladdin, who was much easier to 

 ride than his own pony, which was an ugly, stub- 

 born brute, so exactly like a mule in manner and 

 appearance that he was always called "The Mule." 



