LESSER KUDU 



It is strange how perverse things are sometimes. 

 All through the districts of Guranlagga and northern 

 Joreh I was on the look-out for them every day, for 

 that country is especially adapted to their habits ; for 

 lesser kudu are generally found near water in thick 

 bush, especially where there are aloes ; but there was 

 never one to be seen. As soon, however, as I had 

 reached a more open country typical of the true East 

 African desert, with no water for several miles at 

 least, I saw two and killed one. The other was a 

 doe, and this one a young buck full-grown, but with 

 horns which had not yet reached their maximum 

 length. I sent to camp for a camel to bring him back, 

 and after I had photographed the kudu I went on 

 again, walking across open bush country, and keeping 

 a sharp look-out all the time. Not long after I saw 

 a fine bull arrola, but he unfortunately had got my 

 wind and was looking fixedly in my direction. I 

 stood motionless for about five minutes, but he was 

 highly suspicious and, turning, trotted off into the 

 bush. 1 only saw him once more, when I took a long 

 shot, but missed completely, and he went off at a 

 clumsy gallop, and though I walked through the bush 

 for two solid hours on his trail I could not even sfet 

 another glimpse of him. From the way he ran and 

 from the uneven spoor he left, I believe, and my 

 orderly thought so too, he was the buck whose leg I 

 broke the day before. 



Finally I returned to camp very weary, and after 

 lunch had an interminable discussion with Abdi Aden 

 and two other chiefs that had come with him. I 

 thought I should never be able to get rid of them, 

 but he was exceedingly friendly and promised to 

 accompany me to the Sultan's village. Thence he 



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