,2 THK GAME OI' BRITISH EAST AFRICA. 



two hundred yards' distance, and appearing most anxious to have a good look 

 at them. Meanwhile, the lions looked most embarrassed and self-conscious as 



they slunk away. 



When one is looking for lion lying up, tlie probability is that they have already 

 fed, and so game is not just then afraid of them. Thus, they may be found in close 

 proximity to game, or they may be far away, all depending on the spot they have 



chosen. 



Again, one has read thrilling accounts of sportsmen stalking rhino, crawling and 

 crouching after them as they would after any keen-sighted buck. I have also seen 

 it stated that they have been seen and charged by rhino from something like two 

 hundred yards distant. Now, I have never stalked a rhino in my life, and yet I 

 have seldom had any difficulty in approaching within twenty to forty yards of one of 

 these animals. If I could really believe that they would see me and come for 

 me at two hundred yards, I would think more of rhino-shooting on the plains as 

 a sport. 



Where rhino have been much molested they are very jumpy and sometimes 

 manage to become aware of the hunter's approach at long distances. Most hunters 

 give the rhino birds the credit for imparting this information to their hosts. When 

 approaching such a rhino I have often gone to the trouble of trying to stalk the 

 rli'tno birds, generally with indifferent success. In most cases, however, wherever I 

 have found the rhino at all unsophisticated, whether in bush or plain, and even if 

 accompanied by birds, I have been able to walk up within at least fifty yards 

 without his becoming alarmed. This is, of course, only provided that the wind is 

 right. Many times w^hen trekking with porters in country swarming with rhino have 

 I found them in my direct path. 



On many occasions have I had to induce rhino, very dense and slow at taking 

 a hint, that they were not wanted. On such occasions the porters are generally 

 told to wait behind. Then one goes forward to within one hundred or fifty yards 

 of the animal, according to the presence of trees or otherwise and their suitability 

 for climbing, and shouts and blows whistles at him. He pricks up his ears and 

 turns his wrinkled face round, peering in every direction, and trying to locate the 

 unwonted sound. 



Again one shouts at him, and he is confirmed in his opinion that there is some- 

 thing there. He wheels round and round, trying to make up his mind in which 

 direction to go. Again one shouts at him, and finally he blunders off, generally 

 speaking, upwind. Sometimes he takes the hint quickly and sometimes slowly, but 

 this is the general method of procedure. 



