THE SOUTHERN GUASO NYERO 



grazing across the line of my stalks. The topi 

 themselves were very uneasy, crossing and recrossing 

 and looking doubtfully in my direction. I had a 

 number of chances at small bucks, but refused them 

 in my desire to get a shot at the big leader of the 

 herd. Finally he separated from the rest and faced 

 in my direction at just 268 yards. At the shot he 

 fell dead. 



For the first time we had an opportunity to 

 admire the wonderful pelt. It is beautiful in quality, 

 plum colour, with iridescent lights and wavy "water 

 marks" changing to pearl colour on the four quarters, 

 with black legs. We were both struck with the 

 gorgeousness of a topi motor-rug made of three 

 skins, with these pearl spots as accents in the corners. 

 To our ambitions and hopes we added more topi. 



Our journey to the Narossara River lasted three 

 days in all. We gained an outlying spur of the blue 

 mountains, and skirted their base. The usual varied 

 foothill country led us through defiles, over ridges, 

 and by charming groves. We began to see Masai 

 cattle in great herds. The gentle humpbacked 

 beasts were held in close formation by herders afoot, 

 tall, lithe young savages with spears. In the distance 

 and through the heat haze the beasts shimmered 

 strangely, their glossy reds and whites and blacks 

 blending together. In this country of wide ex- 



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