ENCLOSURE FOR BATHING. 311 



both my former shots had taken effect. He was a 

 fine beast, with long and perfect liorns. 



As the heat was most intense, I made for the boat 

 again. On the way I saw two female waterbucks, 

 and as the men from the village begged me to shoot 

 "more meat" for them, I fired at the larger, and, 

 to their delight, luckily shot her dead through the 

 neck, at about a hundred and sixty yards. We were 

 soon on board and off again. At sunset we came to 

 a village where, as the chief was civil, bringing us a 

 present of eggs and flour on landing, we halted 

 for the night. Here we found a small enclosure of 

 water in the river, made by the natives for bathing in, 

 a strong fence of stakes being driven down close 

 together to keep the alligators out. The clear water 

 ran through it, and I enjoyed a delightful bath. 

 While I was in the enclosure an enormous brute of an 

 alligator swam round and round it. No doubt he 

 would have liked the treat of a bit of white meat ! I 

 slept on the bank, but the mosquitoes prevented much 

 enjoyment in sleep. 



Taking a man from this village as guide, I turned 

 out early next morning for the jungle, game being re- 

 ported very plentiful. Within half a mile of the boat 

 we found fresh spoor of elephants, and in ten minutes 

 we came up with a small herd in some long reeds by 

 the river side. The native who accompanied me 

 would not come up to the elephants, confessing that 

 he was afraid. However, with Chinsoro, who followed 

 me, carrying two guns, I crept cautiously on with the 

 gumtickler. The herd was standing still. The first 

 I came on was a cow. Passins^ to the left of her 



