XXVIII WE REACH THE MERU COUNTRY 345 



numbers of the beautiful crested cranes were much 

 in evidence, while the ubiquitous guinea fowl could 

 be flushed out of every bush. 



The following day we reached the outskirts of 

 the Meru country, and apparently took all the people 

 by surprise. We were at once looked upon as a 



"we reached the outskirts of the meru country.'' 



hostile raiding party and there was a tremendous 

 commotion raised, war-drums being sounded, and 

 shouts exchanged from village to village, these 

 being built very close together in this populous 

 country. All the cattle were instantly driven off to 

 places of concealment in the forest, and in an incre- 

 dibly short time we were surrounded by a howling 



