SOMETHING WRONG. 137 



snug when a native came and asked me if I would go 

 and shoot elephants, stating that he could shew some 

 not far oif. There was but one answer to this ques- 

 tion, and in a few minutes guns, &c., were ready; and 

 putting one biscuit in my shirt-pocket, I started, as 

 usual accompanied by Moloka and Chinsoro. As 

 I hoped to be back early, I took nothing else to eat. 



The first part of our walk lay across a plain about 

 three miles broad, as flat as a billiard-table, with here 

 and there small patches of scrub and long grass. 

 Over all this there was not a sign of any kind of 

 game ; but at the far side was a low ridge, thickly 

 wooded, about a mile in breadth. Through this we 

 also passed without seeing even the track of a deer. 

 We then entered a regular prairie, covered with long 

 grass, and about five or six miles across, and, to my 

 surprise, the track we chose led right through the 

 centre of it, on to another wooded ridge which was 

 just descernible at the opposite side. I now began 

 to think there was something wrong going on. Why 

 should this man have come of his own accord to 

 ask me to go shooting? Why should he take me 

 such a distance from the party, after having posi- 

 tively assured me it was only a little way, and that 

 we should be back before sunset ? We were ten or 

 twelve miles from the. boat, and Moloka begged of 

 me to return, saying, '^ Ajawah no good." I ask- 

 ed my guide what he meant, and whither he was 

 going. Pointing to the trees in front, he said, 

 " Behind those there is a small river, and along the 

 river there are quantities of reeds and bamboos, and 

 elephants are always among them." 



