213 



CHAPTER IX. 



Shot at a Hippopotamus— Devouring Raw Flesh — Return to the Shire — 

 A Heavy Dew — Unsuccessful Elephant-Stalking — Vast Prairie — 

 Hospitably entertained by a Manganja Chief — A Plain stocked with 

 Game — Stirring Effect of Two Shots— A Sharp-sighted Lad— A 

 Refreshing Bath — Splendid Field for Sportsmen — A Dishonest 

 Ajawah — A Request I always comphed with — Arrival at Pamafunda 

 — Welcome from Moloka and Gegara — Mr. Young's Detention at 

 Matiti — Importance of making Friends with Cotondway — Appear- 

 ance of the Country— Natives with Long Hair — Patanda — "Making 

 Prayers " — A Stalk after Buffaloes. 



I WAS up and ready before daylight, and having 

 paid off Maramia s three men, and enlisted five 

 fresh porters, started at 5 a.m. for the tusks. While 

 my men were engaged cutting them out, I, with Mo- 

 bita, strolled up the stream. I had followed its 

 course about half a mile, when I saw what I at first 

 fancied to be an elephant walking along parallel to 

 the bank, about two hundred yards ahead of me, and 

 on the opposite side. The glasses, however, showed 

 that 1 was mistaken, the supposed elephant being 

 a hippopotamus. As the wind was unfavourable, I 

 made a wide circuit, and getting some distance ahead 

 of the animal, crossed the river, and lay in ambush 



