ELEPHANT 187 
consequently, are but poor hunters, we could not distinguish 
them from the Pukka N’dorobo of the Cherangang range, 
who are the very best hunters in all the country, and who 
know every corner of it. These, however, on the other 
hand, are so shy of strangers that you must have secured 
the strongest of introductions to get near them atall. They 
are watching you, you may be sure of that. They keep 
themselves well informed of all your movements, but 
beyond, perhaps, the casual glimpse of a black dot of a head, 
seen for an instant only above the grass or over a rock, 
so far as you are concerned they might be non-existent. 
The help of real wild men hunters, it is no exaggeration 
to say, at least doubles your chances of success. Promise 
them a blanket, or a goat or two, and they will be off at dawn, 
and stay away all night; and if the great game is either feed- 
ing or travelling in your vicinity, you will in all probability 
learn of it from them. Stay in camp till you have reliable 
news, but be ready for a hurried departure at the shortest 
notice — and once you are on fresh spoor, with capable 
trackers, follow on! follow on! ‘The nights in the warm 
season, when the grass is long, and elephant come down 
from the mountains, and out from the impenetrable forests 
to feed, are most pleasant. It is no hardship to sleep out. 
You have your saddle blanket, and your men quickly put 
up for you a grass hut, giving complete shelter. Carry 
always some biscuits in your saddle bag, and a little salt, 
as well as a bit of dried meat. Thus prepared, a night out 
is a pleasure, and after it you will look forward with renewed 
zest to camp luxuries of coffee and steaming hot bath, when 
you do get in. 
Of course, there are lucky men who happen on elephant 
that seem to know they are to be killed anyway, and help 
their pursuers to doit. Elephant will at times come down 
to a swamp and refuse, even by gun fire, to be driven from it. 
They will stand to be shot down, and do all sorts of 
