ELEPHANTS 



tents, ropes, etc. It was an interesting scene I saw 

 from my tent, the little camp fires burning brightly in 

 the dark nig-ht, the half-seen forms of men moving- 

 about or crouching over their cooking-pots, the dim 

 outlines of the resting camels and piled saddles and 

 loads. Near at hand the harsh voices of the Somali 

 sounded in endless talk, or snatches of Swahili con- 

 versation drifted over from the cook's fire. In the 

 distance came the low rumble of thunder and the 

 multitudinous noises of the jungle. 



All the following morning we made our way 

 through similar country to that which we had passed 

 the day before, the sky was again covered with huge 

 black clouds, and there was obviously a heavy storm 

 coming. It was obvious, too, that there had been 

 plenty of rain, and yet the thorn was extremely dry 

 and arid looking, and the only green plants were the 

 cacti and aloes. Soon I saw the fresh spoor of two 

 cow-elephants and a small calf; they must have 

 passed but a few hours before. I could not resist 

 getting off my mule to have a nearer look at those 

 monster footprints, silent witnesses of the near 

 presence of the biggest game alive to-day. Elephants, 

 dik-dik and giraffes are the sole inhabitants of the 

 East African desert jungle, especially the two former. 



In Southern Jubaland elephants do not need pro- 

 tection, for they will continue to live for centuries 

 unmolested in these vast tracks of desolate and water- 

 less thorn-scrub which can never be inhabited by 

 Europeans. It is true that they are much sought after 

 by native hunters, but it is only the white man with 

 his modern rifle who can upset the balance of nature. 



About noon we passed across a small, open plain, 

 where I saw a herd of oryx beisa feeding, and then 



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