LESSER KUDU 



the guides took us a short cut over the hills, where they 

 said we should find greater kudu. However, we saw 

 none, and had to ride back some way, as the caravan 

 had been compelled to halt short of the intended camp- 

 ing place, one camel having fallen by the way and many 

 of the others being dead beat. In the afternoon we 

 had a little rifle-shooting, when I got excellent practice 

 out of my Paradox, but found the telescope of the .256 

 wanted adjusting, as it shot low. The following day 

 I lost my way in thick low jungle, and did not find 

 camp at Gurgura for some hours. On arrival, I found 

 that H. had a greater and a lesser kudu, \V. a 

 lesser kudu, while B. was bewailing his luck at missing 

 one. Four more camels had died, making a total of 

 ten since we started. 



The I St of December proved a red-letter day for 

 me, my bad luck with lesser kudu at last changing. 

 At 6 A.M. I started off through thin jungle towards some 

 low hills, at first passing herds of camels, goats, and 

 sheep belonging to neighbouring villages ; then, as the 

 jungle grew denser, the beasts vanished, and tracks of 

 game began to appear. Suddenly the guide stood still 

 and gave a low warning whistle ; I crept to him, staring 

 in all directions, but could see nothing till close to my 

 attendant, when he pointed out a porcupine in the bush, 

 just disappearing into the mouth of a hole. I fired 

 and dropped it dead ; another immediately came up 

 behind, shuffled past it and disappeared, without giving 

 m^e a chance. The one I had killed was a male, and 

 weighed 28 lbs. Although in many places they are 

 common enough, one very seldom sees porcupines, and 



