CHAPTER XVI. 



EVENING STROLLS WITH A RIFLE. 



PREVIOUSLY I have mentioned how dehghtful it is to wander out by oneself 

 with a rifle, or perhaps accompanied by one native, who carries the cartridge 

 bag, camera, and an axe. 



When Hving in an out-of-the-way mud house I always make it a practice to go 

 out about 3 or 4 p.m., when the sun is beginning to lose its power and to dip in 

 the west. 



At such times the places to make for will be the dambos, which I have explained 

 are open patches of grass land surrounded by bush. In the rainy season these places 

 will be found full of water in their lower parts, and the grass in such localities will be 

 longer and thicker than it is on the higher ground. In the dry season, from August 

 to December, game will nearly always be found in such places if there is perennial 

 water near. Ant-hills will often be seen in these open patches, which form splendid 

 cover for stalking game, and also to spy out the surrounding country, either with the 

 naked eye or with field-glasses. 



To meet with success the wind must be studied, though at certain times of the 

 year it will be found to be blowing from the same direction for weeks on end. There 

 are various ways of testing the wind, such as smoke from a pipe or by dropping dry 

 sand or crushed leaves and grass. Another way is to wet a finger and hold it in the 

 wind, when the windward side will feel colder. A good idea is to carry a small bag 

 filled with fine flour. This, when shaken, will show the direction of the slightest 

 breeze. During the rainy season it is difficult to find dry sand or grass, so one will 

 need to depend on other things, such as tobacco smoke or flour. 



During the months of the hard rains, from January to April, the game will have 

 almost totally disappeared from certain parts of the country. It scatters all over the 

 place, as there is plenty of water and food about, and during the months mentioned 

 it is often very difficult to get a shot at anything. The cover is so thick that game 

 may be close and yet not be visible, and in walking through the thick tangled 

 grass there will be so much noise that the game sneak away quietly without the 

 sportsman being aware of its presence. 



There is a charming uncertainty about shooting in this country, for one never 



