CHAPTER XVI 



September i6. — Spent the morning in a long scout 

 to the hills southeast. Saw much game of the three 

 species, with a heavy run of wildebeeste, of which I got 

 some good herd pictures. From a height we looked 

 down on another country similar to our own, with 

 three of the bright green plains in sight. On each fed 

 black herds, and through our glasses we could make 

 out savages stalking across. Near camp I killed a 

 wildebeeste for meat, at 172 yards. After lunch took 

 my chair in the shade and wrote for a while. When I 

 came to get up I found it absolutely impossible to 

 straighten my back. The muscles refused to work, 

 and the slightest movement even of an inch or two was 

 accompanied by severe pain. After an hour, by slow 

 degrees, I managed to help myself upright and got into 

 camp. There sat in my chair. Unable to reach out 

 or down, even to get a saltcellar, without the most 

 severe pain. I could, however, sit quiet in a chair 

 with no more than a bad ache, so I did so, and watched 

 a beautiful sunset with clouds of mauve and a very 

 blue slate. No temperature, and appetite fine; so con- 

 clude it is like a bad stiff neck, only just below the 



small of the back: probably lumbago. Got to bed 



190 



